August is dubbed Women’s Month. During this month, we acknowledge the role played by females – especially the 1956 marchers to the Union Buildings – in the struggle against apartheid. The month also affords us as an opportunity to gauge the progress made on women development.
Nineteen years into our democracy, women remain oppressed and suppressed. They are also the poorest of the poor. And, sadly, they still suffer in the hands of men in terms of abuse and killings. Ours remain a patriarchal society.
In South Africa, women are a majority. So without their contribution our country will never reach its full potential. Though strides have been made, the government needs to double its effort in terms of women empowerment.
I would like to ask one question: is there women empowerment in the biggest union federation in Africa, Cosatu? Cosatu has never been led by a woman. It has never had a woman president and a woman general secretary, if I’m not mistaken.
The longest serving Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been suspended for sleeping with a subordinate at work. This has divided the federation even further, with one affiliate threatening to pull out from the federation, should Vavi be expelled.
The pertinent question is: who is going to act in Vavi’s position? The longest serving deputy secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, who is a male, is most likely to act in Vavi’s position.
In the battle for the soul of Cosatu, it is males who are fighting against each other. For instance, the Numsa’s fiery secretary general Irvin Jim and SADTU’s Thobile Ntola (who has been suspended for allowing Vavi to speak in a recent Sadtu gathering in the Eastern Cape) are Vavi’s staunch supporters.
On the other hand, the federation’s president Sdumo Dlamini, who is said to be the fervent supporter of president Jacob Zuma, is in the clique that wants to see the back of the union’s suspended secretary general. The female names don’t feature anywhere.
Will a woman ever lead Cosatu? There is nothing that suggests so. Females are mostly deputies in the federation. And they seem to be comfortable with the status quo. Additionally, they hardly raise their voices. Are they tokens?
* Letter published unedited — Ed.
