​BY REGINALD KANYANE
ANC Presidential candidate, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s campaign was dealt a blow on Tuesday after she was barred from entering Koppies in Marikana. 

African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) organised a visit for Dlamini-Zuma at embattled Bapo Ba Mogale Tribal House in Bapong village, near Brits.

Dlamini-Zuma addressed ANCWL delegates and emphasised that women empowerment is key. She further said the ANC was established by churches, traditional leaders, politicians and academics.

“It is imperative for ANC not to lose touch with those who played a pivotal role in its establishment. We came here to have dialogue with them.

“It is important for women to be empowered because part of the struggle is to free women from treble oppression. It is within women’s rights to be empowered. Women are majority in South Africa and if you leave them out, you will never reach your full potential to reach radical economic transformation (RET) initiative,” she said.

Dlamini-Zuma added that most women bring back their income to their respective families when they work. She further said women use their majority of income to benefit their families unlike men.

“The research shows that companies that are led by women are more competative compare to the ones led by men. This makes economic, political and social sense to empower women,” Dlamini-Zuma said.

She added that women who are empowered can also make choices of their lives.

African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in North West said Dlamini-Zuma’s visit was part of campaigns. Provincial chairwoman, Fetsang Mokati said: “This was  indeed part of Dlamini-Zuma’s campaign. We highlighted that during our provincial conference that we will continue to lobby structures to support Dlamini-Zuma as our presidential candidate”

Bapo Ba-Mogale Tribal Authority spokesperson, Vladimir Mogale shared the same sentiments. Mogale said they wish Dlamini-Zuma well in her campaign toemerge as President of the ruling party.

“We believe that this is the era where women can take leadership and we are in support of that aspect. The traditional community highly-appreciate her presence. We also believe that she can assist us in having a stakeholder engagement with the mining company, Lonmin.

“We want to see them abiding to the agreements we signed with them particularly the mining charter. We have also signed some agreements with the mining company, but implementation is very slow,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com