Women must also challenge for ANC secretary-general

Women in the ANC leadership are stereotyped and have been forced to focus away from the allpowerful position of secretarygeneral.

Since the unbanning of the political parties in the 1990s, the ANC seems to have resisted the transfer of power to women to the positions of president or secretary-general.

Instead, what we have seen is a number of election into the position of deputy secretary-general. Cheryl Carolus was Cyril Ramaphosa’s deputy; Kgalema Montlante’s deputy was Sakkie Mthembu Mahanyele; Thandi Modise worked with Gwede Mantashe and Jessie Duarte worked as second-in-charge to both Mantashe and the suspended Ace Magashule

It’s time that female leadership focuses not only on the presidency but secretary-general as well. They must understand that as SG, one is the head of the administration in Luthuli House. This office is responsible for the most important work of the organisation and its policies. The SG is literally the custodian of the organisation.

— Thando Witbooi, former Sasco and ANCYL member