POLITICS

There's a campaign to discredit Dlamini as our leader – ANCWL

Women's league says people cannot stand that their president has championed radical socio-economic transformation in SA

The ANCWL statement on the political smear campaign against it's president Bathabile Dlamini

26 October 2016

The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) has noted the political smear campaign published in various media houses alleging that the President of the ANCWL Cde Bathabile Dlamini in her capacity as Minister for the Department of Social Development is meddling in appointments  of South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) staff and controlling of food parcel tenders being distributed by the agency . Whilst these allegations are made about Cde Bathabile in her capacity as the Minister for Social Development, it is the conviction of the ANCWL that this is a calculated anti-revolutionary  smear campaign by the forces of darkness to discredit her as a leader of the ANCWL.

The anti-revolutionary forces of darkness claiming to be reliable sources of the media cannot stand the fact that under the leadership of Cde Bathabile, the ANCWL has taken amongst others decisive stance to champion radical socio-economic transformation of the country for the benefit of women- in particular black women. Without fear or favor the ANCWL has been demanding that women be given opportunities to serve in decision making and leadership positions in all sectors of the economy and the call for a woman President.  This political smear campaign is funded and carried out by those who have consciously taken a decision to cause disunity in the ANC and society in general and they are hoping that by attacking one of the leaders of the integral part of the ANC which is the ANCWL they will liquidate the ANC.

The ANCWL challenges all the anti-revolutionary dark forces who are behind this political smear campaign and their media agents, to come to light and provide the public with evidence that Cde Bathabile has taken over the powers of the Chief Executive Officer of South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA). As articulated in SASSA Act 9. 2004 in particular Chapter 3 section 6 & 7 these baseless accusations carry an implication that Cde Bathabile has violated the Constitution of RSA chapter 6 section 96 (2c). Any non-factual media articles about ANCWL President are nothing but sinister motives to subject her to courts of public opinions with a hope that the ANCWL members, supporters and society in general will lose confidence in her as a leader.

No amount of smear campaign to any leader of the ANCWL will derail the organization in:

- Mobilizing, organising and unitinh South African Women to participate in the struggle for the liberation of all oppressed groups.

- Spearheading the objectives, policies and programmes of the ANCWL and the African National Congress, amongst women in particular, and society in general;

- Spearheading the emancipation of women within the African National Congress and its structures and at all levels of Government and in the South African Society as a whole;

-Promoting the all-round development of women and assistinh in affirming their confidence and to interpret their needs nationally;

- Promoting amongst women and young women in particular, national consciousness, patriotism, unity and a sense of accountability at all levels;

- Promoting women's participation in every sector in society and to strive for women's participation in every office;

- Combating discrimination in society and in institutions, to work actively towards the dismantling of the patriarchal practises, elimination of laws, customs, practices to oppose any strengthening of patriarchy;

- Campaigning for the adoption and implementation of affirmative action programmes to combat the legacy of past gender and race discrimination;

- Campaigning for an end to all forms of violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups;

- Co-operating with democratic organisations for the promotion of peace and development locally, regionally, nationally and internationally; and

- Campaigning for a culture and recognition of women's rights as human rights.

The ANCWL will continue to tirelessly work towards making the ANC an even more effective instrument of liberation in the hands of the people. The unity and integrity of the ANC is of paramount importance to the ANCWL and under the leadership of Cde Bathabile, the ANCWL will remain united, resolute and an unshaken integral part of ANC. 

Issued by Meokgo Matuba, Secretary General of ANCWL, 26 October 2016