As Thabo Mbeki heads into the twilight of his presidency, his legacy as a feminist is one he holds dear. That much is clear from his speeches and writings.
Mbeki talks a great deal about women’s empowerment and he has walked the numerical talk. The deputy presidency, and more than half the premierships and cabinet posts, are occupied by women. Gender equality is laced through current policy papers and occupies a central place in the employment equity and empowerment laws.ÂÂ
But is Mbeki really a feminist? Or is all this talk just convenient political cover as he surrounds himself with malleable souls who owe the patron? This question is relevant in the light of his decision to fire deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge.
The reality is that Mbeki cannot tolerate ”trouble women” or those who hold contrarian views. Remember Winnie Madikizela-Mandela — fired after an unauthorised trip? Or former MP Pregs Govender, who refused to toe the line on Aids denialism and the arms deal?
The erstwhile deputy minister is not easily tamed or terribly ambitious. Not a particularly astute politician, she speaks her mind and blows against the prevailing winds. It is precisely for these reasons that she has struck such a chord in a country with an increasingly mediocre political leadership.
After the Daily Dispatch ran an investigation into the high number of neonatal deaths at Frere hospital, Madlala-Routledge jumped on a plane to go and see for herself. This in itself was unusual in a cabinet that prides itself on being unresponsive to critical media coverage. Earlier this year, she had a public Aids test and in one needle prick made up for an administration that kept the pandemic shrouded in stigma. She spoke out about the impact of Aids on her own family and shared with the nation every mother’s fear of raising children in the shadow of the pandemic.
In so doing she made herself extremely unpopular at the Union Buildings. The president has never encouraged stars to shine or contrarians to differ. This is why he runs such a so-so government; everyone is too busy ensuring that they do not outshine him. Their eyes are not on the citizenry, but on the chief.
Mbeki remains an Aids denialist. He is silent on his country’s most pressing challenge and he is only silent because the ANC has forced him to keep quiet while other leaders have sculpted a decent National Strategic Plan.
The firing of Madlala-Routledge is vintage Machiavellian Mbeki.