”Sexist” remarks made by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi about women’s equity were misunderstood, the trade-union federation said on Tuesday.
”It was for some reason interpreted as an attack on women and this we totally reject,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.
”It was an attack on people, mainly men, exploiting the genuine concern of promoting women’s rights in order to advance a particular agenda in the [African National Congress] leadership contest,” he said.
Vavi allegedly said men who supported the proposal for gender parity were ”legendary womanisers who want the 50/50 representation so they can take advantage of the women they voted into power”.
The national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC condemned the remark as sexist and demanded an apology from Vavi.
It said the statement was ”not only based on ignorance” but exemplified ”the worst and most backward aspects of sexism”.
Vavi’s comment implied all women were mindless, easily manipulated and incapable of rising to positions of political leadership without dispensing sexual favours.
Craven said some people used the ”50/50 argument when it suits them”, adding that Vavi was unapologetic about the comments he made.
The ruling party may change its constitution at the national conference to make provision for gender parity in its ranks.
Gender equity has been described as ”the backbone” of President Thabo Mbeki’s bid for the ANC presidency.
At least three women candidates would feature in Mbeki’s executive should he win in Limpopo, while the Zuma camp, avidly supported by Cosatu, boasted only one woman.
Craven said Vavi was merely attacking men who wanted to manipulate women.
His comments in no way suggested women were open to being ”taken in” by these manipulation tactics.
Earlier on Tuesday, ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe described Vavi’s statements as ”a bit reckless”.
”History will judge him. I would expect a leader of his stature to be more circumspect,” Motlanthe said.
He said women’s emancipation was a very important issue in the ANC and need not be made ”a ball game”.
ANC stalwart Frene Ginwala, speaking on SAfm, also rejected Vavi’s remarks as ignorant and sexist.
Meanwhile, ANC NEC member and Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi on Tuesday called on Vavi to apologise to all women of South Africa.
She said the issue of gender equality was one of principle and not of ”political expediency”.
”It is truly a sad day in our country when the fight for the equality of women is reduced by a man to the age-old stereotypes of women as unthinking sexual beings unconcerned with their own liberation and emancipation.
”Shame on you, Zwelinzima Vavi. Apologise unconditionally to all the women of South Africa!” she said in a statement.
Vavi’s remark spoke ”volumes” about his views on women and his ”unwillingness” to accept the principle of gender equity.
”Is this Vavi’s way of saying that the ANC should not accept gender parity because the women in our movement are simply pawns at the disposal of males?”
‘Clear message’
Meanwhile, Cosatu said last week that Vavi will not accept a nomination to the NEC of the ANC
Craven said the congress and others in the tripartite alliance were seriously concerned about leaders who embraced ”patronage, careerism and a culture of sycophancy and boot-licking”.
Craven said Vavi and others had been accused of fighting to defend presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma’s ”human rights” because they wanted ”plum jobs” in the government or business.
”Refusing to accept nomination is a way of sending a clear message that Cosatu and many in the alliance are not interested in personal advancement but are determined to fight for the people.”
Craven said Vavi’s decision not to stand for the ANC NEC did not in any way contradict the congress’s commitment to swell the ranks of the ANC. ”That never meant swelling the ranks of the movement’s top positions.”
Vavi said he had ”no interest whatsoever” in a government or business job. ”As long as I am still the general secretary of Cosatu I want to speak for the workers and want there to be no confusion on this.” — Sapa