PRETORIA, Gauteng — The ANC Women’s League is calling for a renewed commitment to rebuilding and strengthening the party amid what Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane describes as an existential crisis. Speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony at Freedom Park, Mokonyane emphasized that women remain the backbone of the movement, contrasting their loyalty with the factionalism and breakaway parties often led by male counterparts.
The event commemorated the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women’s March and served as a prelude to the national Women’s Day celebrations scheduled for Sunday, 9 August, at the Union Buildings. Surviving stalwarts of the 1956 march and national officials were in attendance.
During her address, Mokonyane highlighted that while women have consistently rescued the party, male leaders have frequently caused internal fractures, pointing to the formation of breakaway movements by figures such as Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema, and Bantu Holomisa. She stressed that the modern struggle for women has evolved toward securing socioeconomic rights, economic empowerment, and true inclusivity.
Commemorating 1956: A Call for Qualitative Leadership
Mokonyane urged the younger generation of leaders to look beyond mere numerical representation. While the party has achieved 50% gender parity, she argued that the focus must now shift to qualitative, programmatic contributions within decision-making platforms.
“We don’t want a seat; we want to design the table so that it can actually accommodate different generations, communities, and sectors,” Mokonyane stated, emphasizing that women must assert themselves in shaping the party’s future rather than simply occupying designated spaces.
Shaping the Manifesto for the November 4 Elections
With the November 4 local government elections fast approaching, the ANC Women’s League is actively shaping the party’s electoral manifesto. Mokonyane noted that league members have been instrumental in driving voter registration and have secured nominations as public representatives in their respective branches. Furthermore, the league has engaged directly with the National Treasury to advocate for a national budget that reflects gender-responsive priorities.
Addressing the National Executive Committee, Mokonyane outlined the critical service delivery and economic issues dominating the manifesto discussions. Top priorities include resolving severe water reticulation problems in Johannesburg and across various districts in provinces like Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The strategy focuses on minimizing water losses, ensuring water reaches households, and creating jobs within the water provision sector.
Tackling Service Delivery and Local Economic Development
The cost of living remains a central concern. Mokonyane pointed out the disconnect between housing and livelihoods, noting that while millions of RDP houses have been built, residents still struggle with high electricity costs and unemployment. The league insists that the manifesto must address these economic pressures, ensuring that at least one person in every household has access to sustainable employment. Improved access to primary healthcare services also remains a key pillar.
Local economic development is another major focus. Moving beyond informal spaza shops, Mokonyane advocated for integrating township women into broader commercial industries, such as large-scale baking and school uniform manufacturing. She also addressed the challenge of mine dumps—often referred to locally as “mountains”—and the associated “zama zama” criminality. The proposed solution involves clearing these sites to create new, localized industries through beneficiation, while strictly enforcing bylaws to ensure the safety of women and children.
Mayoral Candidates and Metro Leadership
Addressing speculation surrounding leadership for the upcoming elections, Mokonyane confirmed that mayoral candidates for the eight metropolitan municipalities and secondary cities have been identified.
Reassuring the public, she stated that the ANC is the only party that has actively involved communities in the nomination process. While keeping the specific names under wraps for the moment, she promised an official announcement in due course. She confirmed that a collectively agreed-upon candidate will be selected to lead Johannesburg and other major metros, urging the public and media to “watch the space” for the official invitations and reveals.