Ardent women rights bodies and likeminded bodies must be wishing the leader of the Democratic Alliance was as easily accessible as she was when she was campaigning for elections while dancing to the late Brenda Fassie’s popular tune “Vulindlela”. Given the opportunity, they would give her a good dress down (no pun intended).
Helen Zille’s decision to appoint an all-male cabinet has horribly let down women rights activists who had hoped to see some semblance of gender parity being implemented.
None of the women activists have been as outspoken as Lynne Brown, the ANC’s ‘shadow’ Premier, who did not mince words about her discontent.
“It’s a blatant display of no-confidence in women’s ability to perform from Helen.
Women were just used to decorate election posters (referring to Mayor Patricia de Lille and Lindiwe Mazibuko,” she commented.
Political observers were expecting to see noticeable changes in the Cape Provincial Cabinet’s complexion after a similar decision in 2009 stirred a hornet’s nest, which was highlighted by Cosatu’s decision to take Zille to the Equality Court.
Trace Venter, Zille’s spokesperson, defended the DA’s decision, saying the party appointed women purely on merit and not to fulfil quotas. “We appoint women because they are most qualified for the job, nothing else.”
The woman (zille) should earn a ‘distinction’ for manifesting her dislike for the progress of women up the political ranks. As a coloured person (black) i am just as disgusted.
My people (coloureds) are used for political convenience (look at Cape Flats – no intervention, nothing despite the drug wars!