Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRETORIA4927
2006-12-05 12:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE PRESENTS BLEAK PICTURE

Tags:  PGOV PWMN SF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSA #4927/01 3391213
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051213Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7177
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004927 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PWMN SF
SUBJECT: ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE PRESENTS BLEAK PICTURE


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004927

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PWMN SF
SUBJECT: ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE PRESENTS BLEAK PICTURE


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. In sharp contrast to President Mbeki's
actions and statements in support of women in politics, the
General Secretary of the ANC Women's League, Bathabile
Dlamini, presented a beleaguered picture of an organization
that lacks members, funding, leadership, and vision to
PolOffs on 21 November. Lacking substance and style, Dlamini
gave a monotonic and unfocused delivery of the League's five
goals: increase membership, launch the Progressive Women's
Movement, improve relations with the ANC Youth League, create
a young women's division, and install a "women's desk."
Though she clearly cares about the role of women in South
Africa, the League is unlikely to thrive under her
leadership. Her lack of charisma and personality, coupled
with her recent involvement in the Travelgate scandal, make
her an unfortunate choice for a leadership position in a
movement that was once so vocal and visible under women such
as Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu. Instead, the current
Women's League is a shadow of its former self and will likely
not take advantage of its potential role as a power broker in
the upcoming ANC presidential conference in December 2007,
where not only fifty percent of branch delegates will be
women but the Women's League will exert influence through its
own voting bloc for the first time. END SUMMARY.

--------------
WOMEN'S LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP DWINDLING
--------------


2. (C) General Secretary Bathabile Dlamini spoke at length
about the ANC Women's League's dwindling membership, which
has decreased from 160,000 in 2003 to 46,000 today. The loss
is substantial, but perhaps not as dramatic as it appears.
During her tenure, Dlamini has focused on correcting the
rolls to include only paid members, eliminating ghost members
whose signatures were literally forged with an "X." Dlamini
said the young age of the members belied members' illiteracy
as well as evidence that the same person had written X's down
an entire sheet of paper. She noted, however, that the ANC's
party rolls continue to grow and that as many as 70 percent
of the party's members are women.


3. (C) Dlamini also believes that the League has become "a

victim of gatekeeping by those who now earn salaries." She
went on to say that during apartheid, solidarity was easy
when everyone was poor and disadvantaged. She believes
membership has become exclusive in some areas, with members
recruiting only friends and family members. (Note: Dlamini
was likely referring to the benefits that would come with
membership, including trips to national conferences and per
diem.) In an effort to increase membership, Dlamini said
that the League had signed a contract offering cell phones
for new members for only $5 to $6 a month, but that the
provider reneged on the agreement. (Note: Dlamini did not
specify who agreed to provide the phones or why they did not
follow through). Dlamini did not offer any other strategies
about increasing membership.

--------------
Lack of Funds Affecting Programming
--------------


4. (C) Dlamini revealed that lack of funding has become a
real problem, not only as a result of low membership but also
because the ANC does not give them any money. She admitted
that the League has had to postpone its national conference
to March 2007 from December 2006 because of funding issues.
Dlamini said that the League holds one fundraising dinner a
year, which raises approximately 3.5 million rand or $500,000
USD. When asked why they do not get party funds, Dlamini
shrugged and told us that the ANC Youth League gets money
because they bring actual receipts to ANC headquarters for
reimbursement. (COMMENT: It is unclear why the Women's
League does not do the same. END COMMENT) Dlamini also
admitted that they have only 2 full-time salaried officers
and are short-staffed. For example, her personal assistant
also handles policy planning and planning conferences.
According to Dlamini, they have no media person because they
have no volunteer. (Comment: It is unclear if she meant the
position is unpaid or if no one applied. END COMMENT)

--------------
ALL OTHER AREAS
--------------


5. (C) Dlamini barely mentioned the remaining four goals.
Clearly jealous of the Youth League's closeness with the ANC,
she vowed to work more closely with the Youth League, which
she claims has 5 million members. She noted that they would
launch a Progressive Women's Movement. (Note: According to
the official government website, the Progressive Women's
Movement was launched on 3 August, after a decision was taken
in January 1990.) Dlamini also said that she would like to
launch a women's desk and create a young women's division
within the League which dealt specifically with problems
facing young women today, but did not go into detail about
the issues or the role the new division would play.

-------------- --------------
Upcoming Conference Agenda Probably Needs Fleshing Out
-------------- --------------


6. (C) When asked about issues the Women's League would
address during their next conference, Dlamini mentioned that
she would like women to be encouraged to take ownership of
land rather than a subsidy or grant. When asked how
extremely poor women with no farming skills or credit could
afford to make such a choice, she moved onto the next topic.
She also mentioned "women's economic empowerment," but added
that she knows "nothing about economics." She also would
like to increase women's access to resources like water,
food, and health services. Last, she would like to see an
increase in women's participation in decision-making roles,
"without it being viewed as some sort of gift."
Interestingly, she laid part of the blame on women
themselves, who often nominate a man to a position of power
because they believe "a man must be smarter."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Dlamini, who is also an ex-officio member of the
National Executive Committee, came across as a woman with
little confidence and little ability to stay on subject.
However, the death of a close colleague earlier in the week
probably contributed to her subdued mood. She is also likely
recovering from her role in the Travelgate scandal, in which
Dlamini pleaded guilty to defrauding the government of
R254,000 or roughly $35,000 for using air travel vouchers for
hotel accomodations and luxury car rentals. Regardless of
extenuating circumstances, however, the Women's League is
unlikely to be rejuvenated under Dlamini's direction, despite
the inclusion of high-profile women on its Board of
Directors, including Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dlamini-Zuma. At stake is a
golden opportunity afforded to them by President Mbeki to
influence the upcoming ANC presidential election. For the
first time, the ANC Women's League (and the Youth League)
have been given 53 votes at the upcoming conference in
December 2007. Though a small proportion of the roughly 3400
total votes, the bloc could be a tie breaker if delegates
were to vote along gender lines given that 50 percent of all
branch delegates are supposed to be women. END COMMENT.
BOST