Meet Mopani’s female Chief Whip
"My childhood was not as easy as people might think. Things were tough: - Martha Maswanganyi, the first female Chief Whip in the Mopani District.
LIMPOPO – “My childhood was not as easy as people might think. Things were tough. There was little or no support for a girl child to attend school at the time. I had to fight my way up the ladder in order to get to where I am today,” said Martha Maswanganyi, the first female Chief Whip in the Mopani District.
Maswanganyi was a former Greater Giyani Speaker who was demoted in 2014.
However, she went on a vigorous campaign which later landed her the position of Women’s League Provincial Treasurer last year.
After the recent Local Government Elections, she landed the position of ANC Chief Whip in the Mopani District, making her the first woman to hold the position in the district.
Reminiscing about her childhood, Maswanganyi said she was desperate to attend school because she wanted to learn to read.
“During my school days, girls were rarely allowed to attend school. I wanted nothing more than to be able to read letters addressed to me and reply to them,” she said.
“I attended school and enjoyed learning. I was academically gifted and achieved outstanding results that saw me graduate at the top of my class,” she continued.
Maswanganyi remained diligent in her studies and after she completed high school, she studied toward a degree in education and became a teacher.
“To me, it’s always been about being the best in everything I did. I always strove to be the top performer. I guess, you may say, this is my secret to success,” she said.
When asked how she managed to rise up so quick to become the Women’s League Provincial Treasurer after being demoted from her position as the Speaker for Greater Giyani Municipality in 2014, Maswanganyi said it was partly due to God’s favour coupled with her zeal to fight for what she wants.
“When I lost that position, I didn’t cry. I fought my way up silently and determinedly. This is something every woman should do because crying without action does not help,” she explained.
According to her, life is a constant struggle, and needs dedicated people.
“As a woman, one needs to keep on pushing hard because nothing comes easily,” she continued saying all women need to be able to stand up for themselves.
“Women should stop relying on men to help them financially because if you do that you lose focus on important things that can uplift and empower you,” she said.
