Deputy Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) acting president Thandi Modise are to vie for the league’s presidency.
The two were nominated as candidates at the ANCWL’s fourth national conference on Thursday night held at Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.
Conference organiser Khululekani Ntshangase said both had accepted the nominations.
He said the deputy presidency would be contested by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Thandi Modise and Mavivi Mayakayaka-Manzini.
The candidates for the positions of treasurer and general secretary had not been announced by late Thursday night.
At the opening of the conference earlier on Thursday, President Thabo Mbeki and Modise told delegates that the league needed strong leadership.
Mbeki urged delegates not to spend time fighting for leadership positions, but to focus rather on addressing issues that would empower women.
He said the leadership struggle within the ANCWL had compromised the league’s performance and delivery.
”We all know that the ANC Women’s League is not as strong as it is supposed to be. It has not performed its duties as it was supposed to,” Mbeki said.
Modise said the league needed a strong leadership that would promote women’s agendas.
”We need to push and promote women’s agendas as a league without being distracted about who will lead us,” she said.
The ANCWL leadership came under the spotlight when its former president, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, resigned after she was sentenced on fraud charges. Madikizela-Mandela did not attend the conference.
Mbeki said the league needed to strong and united in order to address issues in South Africa and through out the continent. — Sapa