Womanisers+want+50-50,+Xolani+Xundu,+Times



=‘Womanisers want 50-50’=


 * Xolani Xundu, The Times, 10 December 2007**

//Zuma man says it’s ANC philanderers who want more women in top spots//

Congress of SA Trade Unions boss Zwelinzima Vavi yesterday dismissed calls for the 50-50 representation of women in the ANC, saying this was merely a ploy by ‘womanisers’ to further their interests.

“We are talking here about legendary womanisers who want 50-50 so that other things happen,” Vavi told about 500 supporters celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution. The celebration was organised by the SA Communist Party in Bekkersdal.

Vavi, who is clearly rooting for ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma to take over the leadership of the ANC at next week’s national party congress in Limpopo, did not name the “womanisers”.

President Thabo Mbeki has been a champion of the empowerment of women during his presidency, in which the number of women appointed to the executive has increased significantly. Mbeki is also on record as saying he believes South Africa is ready to be led by a woman.

The Cosatu general secretary also lambasted those women and gender activists who called for 50-50 representation of women in the ANC during their march to the Union Buildings on Thursday, during the 16 Days of Activism Against the Abuse of Women and Children.

Vavi said those who participated in the march represented the interests of the elite.

“They are so shocked that the ANC Women’s League voted the way it did [in support of Zuma].

‘‘The majority of women in the women’s league know that Zuma does not represent an abuser of women’s rights. We are disgusted that some have used this to benefit themselves and their families.

‘‘The majority of women will not be used [because] they know their leaders,” Vavi said.

Speaking at the same function, Zuma — who has just returned from a whirlwind tour of India, the UK and the US, on which he tried to allay fears about his ascension to the ANC presidency — agreed with Vavi.

Zuma said the issue of gender representation in the ANC had been “used wrongly” to achieve political goals.

“We must still learn politics a little bit because, at times, one has a feeling that some of us say things we do not understand. What is democracy? Is democracy not supreme to everything, to sector issues. Are sector issues above democracy?” Zuma asked.

“I believe we must not turn around the debate as we go to Limpopo and make it walk on its head.”

Zuma said it was wrong, when people exercised their democratic right, to suggest that they had done something wrong.

“There must be something wanting in that kind of politics ,” said Zuma.

The ANC deputy president said the organisation believed in the empowerment of women, but he called on the ANC and the Women’s League to reject the use of the gender question to achieve political goals.

“Women should not accept that. The ANC should not accept that,” he said.

“The ANC must be allowed to be democratic. We must not criticise a democratic process. I have been nominated as president and I have accepted,” Zuma said.

He cautioned those reportedly buying votes against him not to change “the ANC into something we do not know”. Zuma said political organisations that bought votes were mercenary.

“Let us not buy members. They are there to be persuaded politically, not to be forced and intimidated.

“Take your principled decision that you can live with and be happy even if your point is defeated,” Zuma said.

He said the ANC could not go back to the “painful period” leading up to the ANC conference.

“I believe the membership will do the right thing in Limpopo.”


 * From: http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=656557**

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