ANCWL calls for more women in the executive

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The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) is not happy with the country only having two women Premiers. League Secretary-General Nokuthula Nqaba has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint more women as he mulls over the new executive of the seventh administration.

Like the ANC Youth League, Nqaba wants to see more women represented in the provincial executive councils where the Premiers are men. The ANC Leagues have come out in defence of the party and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa having the final say on who gets into the Cabinet.

Youth League President Collen Malatji has denounced the Government of National Unity (GNU) dictating who becomes a minister or a deputy minister. The statement of intent of the GNU speaks of consensus of all members represented. But Malatji says it’s the President’s prerogative to decide on Cabinet positions.

“We invited people into the government of national unity. Now, the President still has the powers to decide. Now there is no discussion that is going to happen where other political parties who come into this Government of National Unity must make decisions for the President of the ANC. Now those powers given out, those are the powers of the President of the ANC, who is the President of the country now. Obviously, we’re giving the President that responsibility to appoint.”

The ANC Women’s League has expressed its displeasure and disappointment on the Premier appointments, with only two women making the cut.

Nqaba has appealed to Ramaphosa not to lower the number of women in the National Executive.

“We want to believe that the ANC has realized the mistakes that has been committed, which maybe it was not deliberate, understand the pressure that they have to work under, but it can be also used that as an excuse not to improve. So, we are expecting to see more women not only in the ANC, but also influencing that approach of the GNU which is now being used in governing the country that those that have partnered with the ANC can also take, you know, pride in ensuring that women are being represented, the numbers are very clear,”

The President is due to announce the members of the Executive of the Government of National Unity this weekend after sufficient consultations with all political parties.

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