Fighting Another Good Fight

Nelson Mandela, the president of the African National Congress, has long championed black equality in South Africa. He has fought for most of his life to end apartheid. His commitment to a non-racial government has come as no surprise. But as the first round of constitutional negotiations are set to begin, Mandela has also called for a “non-sexist” government.

This commitment to equality between the sexes is rare in South Africa. Traditional African culture is typically paternalistic; women tend to raise the children, work the farms and do other menial labor. In rural areas, male chiefs retain great influence. In urban areas, male leaders tend to dominate the top offices of the trade unions, civic groups, religious groups and other anti-apartheid organizations including the African National Congress.

No woman serves in the six highest offices of the ANC. Nine women, however, serve on the 50-member national executive committee. The senior woman, Cheryl Carolus, holds the health, welfare and human resources portfolio--a role seen as women’s work. (The only woman in the Cabinet of South African President F. W. de Klerk serves as minister of health.)

Women lead in greater numbers at the ANC’s regional and branch committee level. About a third of that leadership is made up of women. Those numbers are expected to grow because women have made it abundantly clear that they will not be left out of the process as South Africa crafts a new constitution.

In the ANC’s case, women delegates to the national congress sought 30% of the positions on the national executive committee. That quota was never brought to a vote during the July meeting, but women made their point during the emotional debate.

Three women are on the ANC’s negotiating commission. They are expected to be at the table when representatives of the anti-apartheid groups and the white-minority government finally meet.

South African women--including Mandela’s strong-willed wife, Winnie--filled the void during the decades that he and the ANC’s other top leaders spent in jail and in exile. Mandela has acknowledged their role in the anti-apartheid struggle. His embrace of a non-sexist government should influence the politics of a new South Africa.