ANCWL march a smokescreen to protect under-pressure Zuma

The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) march to the Union Buildings today in “defence” of President Jacob Zuma demonstrates just how out of touch the organisation is with the plight of women across South Africa, and how little it respects constitutionally guaranteed rights like freedom of expression.  

It is also not surprising that it comes a week after students marched to the Union Buildings over the ANC government’s failure to provide adequate funding to higher education. Clearly President Zuma and his allies are feeling the pressure. Instead of trying to fix the crises he has created, he attempts to create distractions. 

Indeed, the march is nothing more than a smokescreen. South Africans, and especially women who feel the brunt of patriarchy and sexism in communities across South Africa, will see through it. 

If the ANCWL were serious about fighting for women’s rights, they would be marching against: gender based violence, and specifically the failure by government to implement the Domestic Violence Act; a lack of jobs  - which effects women in particular; not enough funding for higher education and training; maintenance defaulters who continue to escape their responsibilities; the poor performance of the Department of Women since its establishment, which has failed to coordinate responses to the very serious issues women face today; amongst others.

We urge the ANCWL to join us in focusing on these very real concerns, and spend less time protecting President Jacob Zuma at all costs. 

Issued by Denise Robinson, DA Shadow Minister of Women in the Presidency, 30 October 2015