‘Women in National Unity needed to advance cause of SA women’

Former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has called for the establishment of a Women in National Unity (WNU) platform – much like the Government of National Unity – to advance the cause of all South Africa’s women.

Mlambo-Ngcuka was speaking at the African National Conference’s (ANC) Women’s Dialogue hosted by the party’s subcommittee on Gender and Equality in Boksburg, East of Johannesburg.

She has proposed that as the party with the most progressive gender policies – the ANC – take the lead in the formation of a WNU.

“For us to ensure that the largest number of women possible are pushed forward will depend on how we get all the parties in our system in South Africa to have the right policies for women. But we need a platform and a place where all those decisions are taken and in that platform we need to be in the driver’s seat. So there is a discussion that we should be having to have Women in National Unity to walk along the Government of National Unity so that the Government of National Unity is about everything except women,” says Mlambo-Ngcuka.

She also cautioned women in the ANC to be vigilant in ensuring that the party is not swallowed up by the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Mlambo-Ngcuka urged deployees of the party to work hard and showcase what they can do for communities, saying the outcome of their efforts will be reflected in the 2026 Local Government election results.

ANC Women’s Dialogue | “Our support for GNU doesn’t mean swallowing our own party”: Mlambo-Ngcuka