Ntombela close ranks behind Magashule

December 9, 2011 | Filed underPopular News | Posted by editor
Leading from front …ANCWL chairperson Sisi Ntombela has thrown her weight behind Premier Ace Magashule
In a wide ranging interview with The Weekly this week, the re-elected chairperson of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) and MEC for Social Development took a swipe at the “manipulative” ANC Youth League, expressed her support for ANC chairperson and Premier Ace Magashule and promised to grow the membership of the league.
Ntombela retained her position uncontested during the elective conference held in Jakkalsdraai, Bloemfontein, over the weekend. This was after her opponent Maqueen Mathae failed to secure nomination due to lack of support from the branches.
The election of Ntombela and other office bearers confirmed The Weekly’s leadership outcome predictions in last week’s edition. The predicted list came out as this paper reported: Olly Mlamleli is the deputy, Joy Banfon holds a secretary position and her deputy is Joey Mochela while Mmathabo Leeto is the treasurer.
Ntombela dismissed allegations that the conference results were manipulated and praised the majority of ANCWL members for their disciplined behaviour throughout the conference.
“The conference went well and was conducted in a democratic manner. We realised that women are prepared to protect the ANCWL. All women who attended the conference did not mind about how long it will take. But they waited patiently and exercised the democratical right to vote when that time arrived.”
She blasted Mathae and her supporters who accused Magashule of intervening in the outcome of the conference and accused them of being mischievous and dishonest. She said the women who were turned away from conference were not supposed to be there because they were not accredited to attend the conference.
On allegations of Magashule’s intervention, Ntombela said the allegations undermine women’s capability to make their own independent political decisions.
“It is a pity that women undermine other women, that is another challenge we have with women, we cannot own our capacity. When women are working hard to achieve what they want, there is always suspicion that they cannot do it on their own and we attribute that to the help of a man.
“Premier Ace Magashule has never influence the decision of ANCWL. He was shocked to see that we have a huge membership. He was there as the Chairperson of ANC, and he has always been invited to our conference all these years to give the message of support. The secretary of the ANCYL, SANCO, and MKVA were also there for the same purpose”.
Ntombela expressed her undying support for Magashule as the Premier of the province. She emphasised that the ANCWL support his leadership.
“He has done so much for this province. He is not perfect, let us give him a chance to finish what he has started. I think it is even too early to think about another Premier to replace him.”
Ntombela lambasted the ANCYL in Free State. She said although the ANCWL and ANCYL enjoy a cordial relationship she was concerned that the youth league was “not principled”. She said it was wrong for the Youth League to deviate from agreements reached between its self, the Women’s Leagues and the ANC.
“The relationship between us and the ANCYL is good but we have a problem when they say they are marching for economic freedom but their placards relay a different message of leadership change. We will meet with them to address this issue. The Premier is the face of this province and we need to respect that”.
Turning her focus to the women’s league, she said her first priority is to grow the organization. The ANCWL had 3 000 members when Ntombela became a chairperson. The membership has increased to 30 000. Ntombela said she intends to make ANCWL a home for all women young and old and from all walks of life.
“We have done so many things that they are the witness of. We have renewed our relationship with women in Lesotho, Botswana and Haiti. The ANCWL has also helped women to form small cooperatives to create jobs for themselves. We also encouraged them to come out about the abuse and get the help they needed, so we have really made them feel at home in this organisation”.
At the conference, the ANCWL committed itself to mobilise more women to swell the ranks of the league and the ANC. The league will continue tackling issues of unemployment amongst women as well as women and childrenabuse.
The league has started a programme where all young women who do not have matric go back to school. In Villiers there are already 125 young bursaries to further their studies if they want to. Their other focus is on empowering women through creating decent jobs and education.
“Rural women will also be empowered to use their life-long learnt skill in agriculture. They will be assisted to plough and produce agricultural products and sell them in the market. This will help them to create employment and provide for the families.”
In preparation of the celebration of the centenary in 2012, the ANCWL is compiling names of women who have played an important role in fighting for the freedom of South Africa from this province. They will erect tombstones for some of them.
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