ANC women mum on Mummy

MONDAY,5.30PM:

THE African National Congress’ Women’s League has chosen to duck the contentious publicity around its support for Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s bid for the party’s deputy president post—by refusing to say anything about it.

The league announced on Monday that it will wait until after the ANC’s annual conference to issue a media statement about whether or not it supports her candidacy. But to all outward appearances, the league has continued to support Madikizela-Mandela—her name has not been dropped from the list of nominees for the position of party deputy president.

Madikizela-Mandela’s popularity with the Womens’ League grassroots membership continues despite leadership attacks on her for her public criticism of the party.

Madikizela-Mandela’s supporters argue that an ANC decision to change the nomination rules was aimed at blocking her. Under the new rules, a candidate can only stand for a post if he or she has support from 30% of the 2 700 delegates—at the moment the figure is 10%.

Meanwhile the Mpumalanga provincial ANC has stopped its on-off defiance against the national leadership, finally dropping Matthews Phosa’s name to throw support behind the party’s favoured candidate, Jacob Zuma.