By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@MYANC.
The African National Congress (ANC) stalwart Naledi Pandor has reflected on the state of the party and urged a renewal grounded in service, integrity and accountability at the grassroots level.
Pandor delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Getrude Shope, a former president of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL). She also served on the ANC National Executive Committee and played significant roles as an anti-apartheid activist.
Shope, who died in May at the age of 99, was a prominent leader of uMkhonto weSizwe and became the first president of the ANC Women’s League after its relaunch in 1991.
Pandor said Shope would have been dismayed by corruption, dysfunction and the erosion of ANC values.
“We have lost our glory. Let’s not pretend about it. The people are looking at us with disdain, with horror and shame.”
Pandor said Shope would have been deeply upset by the widespread corruption and the loss of important values by leaders.
“She knew of the corruption that had dragged the revolutionary morality of our leaders down. She was aware of our failures at the local government level and of the inadequate capacity to serve, which is prevalent in our public service.
“She knew well about the decline of her beloved African National Congress, not just in election results, but in its ability to stay true to its role as a leader of society and to the values of serving the people, “said Pandor.
The ANC, historically dominated by older men in key positions, has long faced challenges with its generational mix.
Young people had consistently called for the removal of senior leaders to make way for the “young lions”, said Pandor. She urged stronger collaboration between different generations of women, stressing the importance of combining experience with energy.
Pandor added that Shope would have embraced the National Dialogue.
“She would have welcomed the initiative of a national dialogue as a step towards strengthening social cohesion and as a platform for creating a foundation for unity of purpose and shared resolve among all South Africans.
She also linked Shope’s solidarity with liberation struggles worldwide to today’s conflicts, highlighting the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
Pandor said Shope would have been appalled by Israel’s assault on international law and proud of South Africans who continue to stand with oppressed peoples across the globe.
Shope was born in Johannesburg, but grew up in Zimbabwe.
At 29 she joined the ANC and soon afterwards left teaching as part of a campaign to boycott Bantu Education.
In 1966 the ANC convinced her to leave South Africa and join her husband, Mark Shope, in exile.
While in exile, Gertrude and her husband travelled frequently to lobby as representatives of the ANC. In 1991 Shope was elected president of the ANC’s Women’s League, a position she held until 1993.
She worked together with Albertina Sisulu in convening the ANC’s Internal Leadership Corps Task Force from 1990-1991. In 1994 Shope became a member of parliament in the Government of National Unity.