ANCWL call for women's ministry

2007-04-01 17:03

Johannesburg - A strong, vibrant and democratic ANC Women's League (ANCWL) was needed to fight poverty and empower women throughout the country, said the organisation's president Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Sunday.

"We commit ourselves to building an ANCWL that becomes a beacon of hope and a symbol of unity through action and work within the community in which we live."

She was addressing more than 1 000 provincial delegates at the ANCWL national council in Esselen Park, Ekurhuleni.

"We call for the establishment of a special women's fund to facilitate and fastrack the total participation of women in the mainstream economy."

Mapisa-Nqakula said the fund, which could be sponsored by members of the league, would help empower underprivileged women and eradicate poverty.

She also called for the establishment of an organisation that would foresee women's developmental programmes.

Will monitor poverty eradication

"We call on the South African government, through the president, to establish a ministry of women's affairs, planning and co-ordination.

"This will ensure that all poverty-eradication programmes will be effectively and efficiently developed, implemented and monitored," said Mapisa-Nqakula.

During their four-day national council, members of the ANCWL made a declaration to encourage active participation of young women in their structure, and ensure that there was 50% representation of women in decision-making structures.

The council was addressed on Friday by President Thabo Mbeki, who urged women to forget about who would be the party's next president and focus on solving poverty and gender violence.

- SAPA