DUARTE POISED TO LEAD

 ANC and ANCWL branches have overwhelmingly endorsed Jesse Duarte’s nomination to serve in the party’s top six positions and have praised her as a dedicated, hardworking and principled leader in the ruling party

All but two ANC provinces have nominated the diminutive, but feisty, Jessie Duarte, for the position of deputy secretary in the ruling party. It is almost certain that Duarte will occupy the coveted position in the top six of the ruling party at the national elective conference to be held in Mangaung next month.

Many would wonder why it is that so many ANC members have confidence in Duarte, but the reason is simple. She is one of the most effective, hardworking, committed and loyal ANC leaders.

She is also committed to the ANC principles of creating a non-sexist, non racial and united South Africa.
“We must understand that although we liberated everyone in the country, not everyone feels like that. We must understand that feeling liberated must be self-engineered, it cannot be imposed,” she once said, when she was emphasising the need for the ANC to win votes from minority groups in the country.

Duarte was born in September 19, 1953. She grew up in a coloured community and was a long time anti-apartheid activist. She was also once a personal assistant to the first black South African president and one of the most respected people in the world, Nelson Mandela.

Some of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) branches in the Free State have made known their preference of Duarte to be the ANC deputy secretary-general. They have praised her for her ability to speak eloquently on behalf of the ruling party and her deep knowledge of ANC policies.

Duarte was once the national spokesperson of the ANC and the chief operating officer in the Presidency, before she left to run the President’s ANC office.
She is counted among the strong and well refined female leaders in the country, with some of these women having emerged from the grassroots to capture national and international attention.

The ANCWL, especially in Kwazulu Natal and the Free State, feels that Duarte will be able to advance women issues and unite the organisation. They liken her contribution to the ANC to other league stalwarts such as the late Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Madikezela-Mandela, Pregs Govender, Ellen Khuzwayo, Frene Ginwala, Naledi Pandor, and Baleka Mbete.

The ANCWL’s view is that Duarte’s nomination is proof that there is an abundance of women thinkers in the ANC that can be trusted with the responsibility to lead the country.
The KZN ANCWL said Duarte will represent diversity and gender equity in the ANC leadership.

“We nominate Jessie Duarte because we believe that other races should be represented as well and because we are a non-racial organisation,” said the Chairperson of KZN ANCWL, Celiwe Madlopha.
Duarte was a member of Gauteng cabinet from 1994 to 1998 and South African ambassador to Mozambique from 1999 to 2003.

In 1988, she was detained without trial and after her release; she was placed under restrictions during the state of emergency in the country. She was among the first group of liberal women to serve in government since 1994. She resigned from the presidency in 2010.

She occupied the position of chief director and was in charge of African issues in the then department of foreign affairs since 2002. Duarte also in the private sector including companies such as Anglo-American Properties Limited.

Former MEC for social development, Suzan Mnumzane, told The Weekly that she worked very closely with Duarte while she was in government and was impressed with her work ethic.
“She is a hard worker and a firm individual. She is able give guidance and enforce discipline among hose who work with her. I have full confidence that should she be elected, she will execute her duties effectively. Remember she once worked close with the former president. She is the right person for the deputy secretary position.”

Duarte’s nomination underlines the quest by the ANCWL to ensure that women occupy leadership positions in the country’s politics. The Women’s League in the Free State further nominated current ANC national chairperson, Baleka Mbete, to take up deputy president responsibility.

According to the Free State ANCWL, this is designed to groom women and place them in pole position to lead the country.

“We are going to the conference not only to elect leaders but to ensure that women are represented in the leadership positions. Women are usually used as front troopers but this time we want to make sure they assume the leadership.

“We want women’s challenges to be highlighted; we want to talk about and implement programmes that will empower them. We must unite on this issue and speak with one voice,” ANCWL Free State Chairperson, Sisi Ntombela explained during the nomination council.

Duarte’s illustrious career

• Chief Director – Africa Multi-Lateral (2002 – present)
• Spokesperson- African National Congress
• Management Accountant – Anglo American Properties Limited
• High Commissioner – Foreign Affairs Department – South African Government
• Mozambique (1999 – 2003)
• Member of Executive Council – Safety and Security – Provincial Government
• Gauteng (1994 – 1998)
• Special Assistant – President Nelson Mandela – South African Government (1990 – 1990)
• Chief Operating Officer – The Presidency – South African Government
• Regional Executive Committee – African National Congress – Member (1990 – 1991)
• African National Congress National Executive Committee – Member
• African National Congress – Member. – Who’s Who