Women’s League Marks Historic Renewal

History was made in Mpumalanga over the weekend as the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) finally elected a constitutionally mandated provincial executive committee (PEC) after a decade without a formal structure. The previous PEC was disbanded ten years ago, leaving the league without leadership until this landmark gathering. In another unprecedented moment, all officials were elected unopposed — a rare sign of unity in today’s competitive political landscape.

The newly elected PEC deserves warm congratulations, but their rise also invites a deeper question: are the ANC’s leagues still relevant in the current political environment?

To answer this, one must revisit the reasons the Women’s League was formed. Its aims and objectives include:

• Mobilising and uniting South African women in the struggle for liberation.
• Advancing the objectives of the ANCWL and the ANC across society.
• Driving the emancipation of women in the ANC, government, and society at large.
• Promoting women’s development and confidence.
• Fostering national consciousness, unity, and accountability among women.
• Ensuring women’s participation in all sectors of public life.
• Combating discrimination and dismantling patriarchal systems.
• Campaigning for affirmative action to overcome gender and racial inequality.
• Fighting violence against women, children, and vulnerable groups.
• Promoting peace, development, and recognition of women’s rights as human rights.

These objectives remain profoundly relevant in South Africa today. Yet, elective conferences — not only within the ANC but across most political parties — have shifted their focus from policy discussions to leadership contests. Political organisations, including the ANC Youth and Women’s Leagues, are no longer significantly influencing policy direction or contributing research on issues affecting communities.

With the establishment of the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, there is an urgent need to clarify the national gender machinery and revise outdated policy frameworks. Equally concerning is the inadequate response to LGBTQ+ rights. Stigma remains widespread, often fuelled by conservative religious and traditional views. Many communities mistakenly believe that promoting LGBTQ+ rights equates to promoting LGBTQ+ identity. Proper education and awareness programmes are needed, especially in schools, to foster understanding and respect.

A 2010 UNDP report highlighted progress in education, noting that more women graduate than men. However, female participation in Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) fields remains alarmingly low. Government must intervene to close this gap and address ongoing shortages in technical and scientific skills.

Women and girls continue to face challenges such as high dropout rates due to early pregnancy, high levels of illiteracy, and limited access to meaningful skills development. Existing programmes, including ABET and Kharikhude, have not sufficiently transformed the skills landscape. SETAs and development agencies must adopt stronger, more targeted strategies, especially for women living in rural areas and informal settlements.

As the province heads into local government elections within the next 12 months, the newly elected PEC faces a significant task. It must provide strong leadership, ensuring that young and older women alike are supported to occupy senior positions in government and across all sectors of society.

We wish the new PEC well as it steps into this pivotal role.