Female delegates to elect new leadership

Her election as Chairperson of the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in the province on the weekend caught MEC Joy Matshoge by surprise and she is humbled by the confidence shown in her ability to add value to the fight against the triple oppression of poverty, inequality and unemployment faced by women in Limpopo.
Despite predictions of possible conflict marring the past weekend’s 6th elective conference of the Limpopo ANCWL at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort, an executive leadership emerged which Matshoge described as a combination that could change the lives of Limpopo women for the better if they worked together as a focussed collective. Matshoge stood uncontested as former Chairperson Maite Marutha declined nomination.
Marria Manamela is the newly elected Deputy Chairperson of the ANCWL in the province, Lilliet Mamaregane the Provincial Secretary, Nandi Ndalane her deputy and Martha Maswanganyi the Provincial Treasurer.
In an interview with Polokwane Observer Matshoge afterwards expressed the opinion that there were many challenges ahead. The executive was being elected at a time of them having to come up with a robust campaign ahead of next year’s local government elections, she stressed.
Matshoge continued saying due to the fact that Limpopo was a rural province, the majority of women were unemployed and the newly elected leadership needed to come up with strategies for job creation. As violence against women and children were becoming the order of the day, they also had to look at what to do to bring an end to the demon, she indicated. Inequality remained a challenge and needed to be implemented within a broader context, she reckoned. She further raised the view that women in the province were wearing the face of poverty and that it was upon them to get rid of that complexion. Matshoge simultaneously referred to school drop-outs and teenage pregnancies needing addressing. With few women in farming they needed to encourage women to form cooperatives to obtain skills in export of produce and food processing that would result in them benefitting from an entire value chain, she said. Another worrisome factor was scores of unemployed graduates able to add value to the skills base of the province, she reckoned. According to her provincial departments should ensure they absorbed such individuals as interns with the intention to employ them in future. Lastly she raised the issue that as women of Limpopo they should talk to traditional leaders to grasp problems and look for solutions together.
On behalf of the ANC in Limpopo, Provincial Secretary Nocks Seabi added his voice to the congratulatory messages stating in a media release that the ANC would continue to work with the new leadership of the Women’s League towards making sure that they advanced the agenda of women and young girls in the province.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com

Featured photo : MEC Joy Matshoge is seemingly overwhelmed by the warm reception displayed by jubilant delegates upon her arrival at the 6th Provincial Elective Conference of the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Friday evening.