Comments on: Does the ANC Women’s League exist?

By: Wezi

Wezi — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:26:25 +0000

The ANCWL is exactly that, the Women’s League of the ANC and nothing less or more. Issues discussed within the ANCWL, are driven by its own agenda influenced by external imperatives. If anyone thinks that they are quiet, say it from within to influence the agenda.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:51:44 +0000

I invite you to attend the ANCWL branch meetings and then review your opinion about the organisation.

By: Jennifer Thorpe

Jennifer Thorpe — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:11:10 +0000

Vusi, they are there to serve WOMEN’S interests. But, they only serve ANC interests. They are not the same.

By: Barefoot Teacher

Barefoot Teacher — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:12:32 +0000

In the words of my immortal father, julle pis almal die pot mis. Jennifer: “I’d like to know where the state defenders of our rights are”. To point out the obvious, the ANC WL is a wing of the ANC party. Repeat, ‘party’, not the State then. It is however surprising that one hears so little from the WL on recent topical matters, especially given what its own constitution has to say (“3.3 The ANCWL is a democratic women’s organisation, which is non-sexist and opposed to all form of discrimination and chauvinism along tribal and ethnic lines” – see http://www.anc.org.za/wl/docs/constitution2003.html). So much for the ‘leave my culture alone’ trend that we’ve witnessed from within the ranks. I think perhaps Mr Malema’s ill-discipline has fooled Jennifer into thinking that loyal party members use the public media to address party issues. This is not the norm for parties in bourgeois democracies. Not here. Not anywhere. Mr Malema will no doubt soon grasp this himself. I have no doubt (efficacy notwithstanding)that the members of the ANC WL do express their views on violence, exploitation, etc, but do so within the party’s structures. We can all agree that SA’s not a safe place for women. Fixing that starts with you and me. How many of us are actively involved in community crime forums/ are police reservists? Or is it so much easier to just blog about it?

By: GlendaN

GlendaN — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:00:53 +0000

They’re toothless. Like their leader.

By: The Creator

The Creator — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:58:12 +0000

The idea of having a women’s league is a good one. The ANC, certainly after its unbanning, led other parties in promoting women’s rights. (This is why so many people are irritated by Jennifer Thorpe’s white-centred ahistoric perspective.)

But the women’s league was never significant in that respect. For a long time it was led by Winnie Mandela, who never had any real respect for women’s rights (or anyone’s rights but her own). Therefore the problem is not the weakness of the women’s league, but the declining status of women within the party since Polokwane.

Another problem is that women having theoretical rights does not give them concrete power as individuals. Wider society is not the ANC, and in wider society men dominate women. Blaming the ANC for that, as Thorpe implicitly does, is not particularly helpful, although it naturally serves Thorpe’s political agenda.

By: Obzino Latino

Obzino Latino — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:49:30 +0000

What about Malema’s consistant critic on male dominated economy, with white male in the helm, excluding even their wives – where does it feature here in your critic. Issues of gender politics and emancipation in the Congress Movement has never been about Men Vs Woman, but a concerted efforts from both to bring about this change that we now hear many women like you participating in public discourse without fear of prejudice- read more of our struggle to date & stop thinking like a sexist. Like socio-economic emancipation of black & white south africans, male and female, reall freedom will not pop out of a pen, you will have to get yourself dirty

By: MLH

MLH — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:10:29 +0000

‘The ANC Woman’s league are too busy cleaning up after the ANC Children s league to have any significant political impact…

Good one, Robin Grant!

No woman with a brain would join the ANC at the moment…the organisation is an embarrassment to the country. The very fact that an ANC womaen’s league exists shows a lack of equality

By: haiwa tigere

haiwa tigere — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:42:52 +0000

With maternal mortality lower employment for women etc etc- the ANC womens league does not have Zumas sexual gymnastics on its agenda. This is Your agenda.You deal with it. A black woman in the village will not mention zuma twice today because of his love child. Its not relevant to her but it seems to bother you lots . if you want it to be on the ANC womens league agenda then be part of this movement and introduce it to the agenda.
Until the day women stop sleeping with married men an stop wanting to be second wives what Zuma did occurs everyday in SA australian lives.
Infidelity is everywhere and the womans league is not going to bog itself with sexual mores of anybody when women need real change not cosmetic.

By: Vusi Nzaphs

Vusi Nzaphs — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:15:39 +0000

@ Hugh: Mr Robinson, insulting someone for raising an issue contrary to your own is just not in the spirit of debate.
@ Qminati, point taken. I can’t help but notice you also chose not to debate the issues in your haste to point out procedural flaws in my reasoning.
@ Lilian: By beseeschingme for making “stupid comments”, aren’t you desperate to just shut me up because you disaagree with what I say.
I’ve slowly noticed that in this country, the chattering class falls for the same trap they accuse the Julius Malemas of this world of…i.e insulting people they disagree with. I was hoping for a breath of fresh air in this forum as opposed the staple insults in The Times and IOL comment, but sadly, some of the comrades in here are just beyond “civilised” discopurse, it’s their view or else Robinson will question your sanity etc etc.

@ Jennifer, you have a right to make contributions to women empowerment in the forums you chose, but why then do you feel the right to question the bona fides of the WL when you know very well they are an organisation whose membership is voluntary os exists to serve their particular interests?