PRETORIA, Gauteng — As the ruling party gears up for the November 4 local government elections, the ANC Women’s League is taking a decisive role in shaping the electoral manifesto and identifying mayoral candidates for major municipalities. Speaking at a commemorative event, Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane outlined a robust socioeconomic agenda aimed at addressing service delivery failures, revitalizing township economies, and securing the party’s future.
Addressing league members and surviving stalwarts of the 1956 Women’s March at Freedom Park, Mokonyane did not shy away from the party’s internal challenges. She characterized the movement as facing an existential threat, noting a stark contrast in loyalty between genders. While women consistently act as the backbone of the organization, she pointed out that male leaders often fracture the party when dropped from candidate lists. Referencing the political departures of Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema, and Bantu Holomisa as examples of men forming breakaway factions, she urged female members to remain steadfast and rescue the organization rather than abandoning it.
Redefining Representation and Economic Justice
The wreath-laying ceremony served as a prelude to the government-led Women’s Day celebrations scheduled for Sunday, 9 August, at the Union Buildings. However, the league’s focus is heavily oriented toward the future. Mokonyane argued that the modern struggle has shifted toward socioeconomic justice, economic empowerment, and true inclusivity.
She challenged the younger generation of politicians to move past the achievement of 50% numerical gender parity. True empowerment, she noted, requires qualitative contributions to decision-making platforms. “We don’t want a seat; we want to design the table,” Mokonyane declared, emphasizing the need to create structures that accommodate diverse generations, communities, and sectors.
Service Delivery and the Cost of Living
With the election date officially proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the league has been actively involved in voter registration and securing branch nominations for public representatives. Furthermore, they have lobbied the National Treasury to ensure the national budget reflects gender-responsive priorities.
Ahead of a crucial 10:00 AM National Executive Committee (NEC) sitting, Mokonyane detailed the manifesto’s core pillars. Topping the list is the severe water crisis affecting Johannesburg and widespread districts in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. The strategy focuses on fixing reticulation systems, halting water losses, ensuring supply reaches individual households, and generating employment within the water provision sector.
Additionally, the manifesto tackles the rising cost of living. Mokonyane highlighted a glaring contradiction in modern service delivery: while the government has successfully built over four million RDP houses, many residents cannot afford the electricity to power them. The league insists that housing must be paired with sustainable job creation, advocating for at least one employed individual per household. Improved access to primary healthcare services is also listed as a non-negotiable demand.
Industrializing Township Economies
A major thrust of the league’s economic vision involves localizing township economies and moving beyond survivalist spaza shops. Mokonyane proposed integrating women who bake from home into the mainstream commercial bakery industry and securing their place in the broader school uniform supply chain.
She also addressed the environmental and criminal challenges posed by township mine dumps, often colloquially referred to as “mountains.” Rather than solely treating the associated “zama zama” mining as a criminal issue, the league proposes clearing these dumps to establish new, localized beneficiation industries. Coupled with stricter enforcement of bylaws, these initiatives aim to bolster the safety of women and children while creating local jobs.
Mayoral Candidates and Metro Leadership
Looking toward the eight metropolitan municipalities and secondary cities, Mokonyane confirmed that the league and the broader party have already identified their mayoral candidates. She emphasized that the ANC is unique in inviting the public to participate in the nomination process at the community level.
While withholding the specific names for now, she promised that the public and media would be formally invited to the reveal. She assured supporters that a collectively agreed-upon leader—regardless of age or gender—will be chosen to helm Johannesburg and the other major metros, telling journalists to “watch the space” for the final announcements.
