Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities expresses its concern that the DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has flushed down the drain yet another opportunity to improve the dismal gender equity status of the provincial government of Western Cape.
The decision by Zille yesterday to once again appoint an all-male provincial cabinet demonstrates her utter disregard for gender equality and empowerment of women of Western Cape and South Africa.
Zille is well aware of the strong criticism expressed by almost every gender organisation in the country when she appointed an all-male executive in 2009. In a display of political arrogance, Zille once again spits it on the face of women of Western Cape that none of them is capable of being an MEC. Western Cape is the only province in the country where women are denied the opportunity to serve at the highest political decision making positions in the province.
This development is another proof that Zille has no faith in women leadership and is only prepared to use them to garner votes. Despite the fact that women already constituted 40% of councilors before the May 2011 local government elections, Zille selected the lowest number of women to stand as candidates for the DA at 33%.
Zille’s decision to put Lindiwe Mazibuko – who has no relevance to local government as a DA backbencher in national parliament – on the main DA election poster was a pure act of fronting. It was meant to window dress a patriarchal political party with a superficial image of multi-racialism and women leadership.
Zille is only keen to appoint women only as actors in DA’s propaganda adverts where they were made to praise the party’s service delivery record while they themselves are not receiving such services in the informal settlements of Cape Town.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Source: Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities
