Peter Dickson
The Eastern Cape legislature’s minority of women members have established the first women’s caucus in a provincial legislature, in a determined bid to tackle gender imbalances and influence government policy over the next five years.
Eastern Cape legislature deputy speaker and former welfare MEC Mandisa Marasha commented on the new body that comprises women MPLs from across the political spectrum: “Women have been lagging behind in many areas and we want to close the gap.
“We want strong and effective women leaders to be able to influence policy formulation in the legislature and in government.”
This followed a meeting between Marasha, speaker Mkhangeli Matomela, African National Congress chief whip Sicelo Gqobana and Northern Province deputy speaker Khoti Nyama. Nyama, chair of the Speakers’ Forum women’s empowerment unit was on an official visit to the Eastern Cape to assess the progress of a Swedish-sponsored women’s empowerment and training programme.
The Eastern Cape women’s caucus first chair, Nomsa Jajula, who succeeded Marasha as welfare MEC but did not survive Premier Makhenkesi Stofile’s post-election executive council reshuffle, said the body would lobby for the addressing of gender issues and network with community-based organisations to make sure policy formulation was gender sensitive. MPL Zanele Makina, provincial chair of the ANC Women’s League, was elected the secretary.
ENDS