Mopani will not have a mayor for now, says ANC
ANC provincial spokesperson Donald Selamolela said Mopani had sent three names to the provincial leadership after former mayor Rakgoale was appointed as an MEC.
ANCWL secretary-general Meokgo Matuba and president Bathabile Dlamini. Picture: ANA (Jonisayi Maromo)
Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo will not have a mayor for now, the Limpopo ANC said yesterday.
This follows widespread allegations that the provincial leadership has brushed aside the ANC Women’s League’s (ANCWL) call for gender parity in crucial government positions. Last week, the league called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure 50/50 gender representation in senior government positions at national, provincial and regional level.
ANCWL secretary-general Meokgo Matuba said the league would also fight for more women leaders in parastatals and the private sector.
“We believe women are ready, able and capable to lead. We are recharged to fight for more women to be appointed to Ramaphosa’s Cabinet, provincial Cabinets and in the regional government structures,” she said.
Last week, Premier Stan Mathabatha was applauded for appointing more women as MECs. He appointed Thandi Moraka as MEC for sports, Polly Boshielo for education, Nandi Ndalane for agriculture, Onnica Mochadi for roads and public works, Phophi Ramathuba for health and Nkakareng Rakgoale for social development.
“But the call for gender parity seems to have fallen on deaf ears in the Limpopo ANC,” Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader in the Mopani region, Sanco Dipepenene Madia, said yesterday.
“Limpopo has five district municipalities: Capricorn, Sekhukhune, Waterberg, Vhembe and Mopani. Four are run by men, except for Mopani.
“This is directly disregarding women for leadership positions in the region and province. What this says is that women are barren, unskilled and not capable of leading,” he added.
ANC provincial spokesperson Donald Selamolela said Mopani had sent three names to the provincial leadership after former mayor Rakgoale was appointed as an MEC.
“We are still dealing with logistics in the matter. In the meantime, the district will make do with the acting mayor until we appoint a new mayor,” he said.
– news@citizen.co.za
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