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DE RUEHSA #4927/01 3391213
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FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004927 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PWMN SF
SUBJECT: ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE PRESENTS BLEAK PICTURE 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum.  Reasons 1.4( 
b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY.  In sharp contrast to President Mbeki's 
actions and statements in support of women in politics, the 
General Secretary of the ANC Women's League, Bathabile 
Dlamini, presented a beleaguered picture of an organization 
that lacks members, funding, leadership, and vision to 
PolOffs on 21 November.  Lacking substance and style, Dlamini 
gave a monotonic and unfocused delivery of the League's five 
goals: increase membership, launch the Progressive Women's 
Movement, improve relations with the ANC Youth League, create 
a young women's division, and install a "women's desk." 
Though she clearly cares about the role of women in South 
Africa, the League is unlikely to thrive under her 
leadership.  Her lack of charisma and personality, coupled 
with her recent involvement in the Travelgate scandal, make 
her an unfortunate choice for a leadership position in a 
movement that was once so vocal and visible under women such 
as Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu.  Instead, the current 
Women's League is a shadow of its former self and will likely 
not take advantage of its potential role as a power broker in 
the upcoming ANC presidential conference in December 2007, 
where not only fifty percent of branch delegates will be 
women but the Women's League will exert influence through its 
own voting bloc for the first time.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------------------- 
WOMEN'S LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP DWINDLING 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) General Secretary Bathabile Dlamini spoke at length 
about the ANC Women's League's dwindling membership, which 
has decreased from 160,000 in 2003 to 46,000 today.  The loss 
is substantial, but perhaps not as dramatic as it appears. 
During her tenure, Dlamini has focused on correcting the 
rolls to include only paid members, eliminating ghost members 
whose signatures were literally forged with an "X."  Dlamini 
said the young age of the members belied members' illiteracy 
as well as evidence that the same person had written X's down 
an entire sheet of paper.  She noted, however, that the ANC's 
party rolls continue to grow and that as many as 70 percent 
of the party's members are women. 
 
¶3.  (C) Dlamini also believes that the League has become "a 
victim of gatekeeping by those who now earn salaries."  She 
went on to say that during apartheid, solidarity was easy 
when everyone was poor and disadvantaged.  She believes 
membership has become exclusive in some areas, with members 
recruiting only friends and family members.  (Note: Dlamini 
was likely referring to the benefits that would come with 
membership, including trips to national conferences and per 
diem.)  In an effort to increase membership, Dlamini said 
that the League had signed a contract offering cell phones 
for new members for only $5 to $6 a month, but that the 
provider reneged on the agreement.  (Note:  Dlamini did not 
specify who agreed to provide the phones or why they did not 
follow through).  Dlamini did not offer any other strategies 
about increasing membership. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Lack of Funds Affecting Programming 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Dlamini revealed that lack of funding has become a 
real problem, not only as a result of low membership but also 
because the ANC does not give them any money.  She admitted 
that the League has had to postpone its national conference 
to March 2007 from December 2006 because of funding issues. 
Dlamini said that the League holds one fundraising dinner a 
year, which raises approximately 3.5 million rand or $500,000 
USD.  When asked why they do not get party funds, Dlamini 
shrugged and told us that the ANC Youth League gets money 
because they bring actual receipts to ANC headquarters for 
reimbursement.  (COMMENT:  It is unclear why the Women's 
League does not do the same.  END COMMENT)  Dlamini also 
admitted that they have only 2 full-time salaried officers 
and are short-staffed.  For example, her personal assistant 
also handles policy planning and planning conferences. 
According to Dlamini, they have no media person because they 
have no volunteer.  (Comment:  It is unclear if she meant the 
position is unpaid or if no one applied. END COMMENT) 
 
--------------- 
ALL OTHER AREAS 
--------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Dlamini barely mentioned the remaining four goals. 
Clearly jealous of the Youth League's closeness with the ANC, 
she vowed to work more closely with the Youth League, which 
she claims has 5 million members.  She noted that they would 
launch a Progressive Women's Movement.  (Note: According to 
the official government website, the Progressive Women's 
Movement was launched on 3 August, after a decision was taken 
in January 1990.)  Dlamini also said that she would like to 
launch a women's desk and create a young women's division 
within the League which dealt specifically with problems 
facing young women today, but did not go into detail about 
the issues or the role the new division would play. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Upcoming Conference Agenda Probably Needs Fleshing Out 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶6.  (C) When asked about issues the Women's League would 
address during their next conference, Dlamini mentioned that 
she would like women to be encouraged to take ownership of 
land rather than a subsidy or grant.  When asked how 
extremely poor women with no farming skills or credit could 
afford to make such a choice, she moved onto the next topic. 
She also mentioned "women's economic empowerment," but added 
that she knows "nothing about economics."  She also would 
like to increase women's access to resources like water, 
food, and health services.  Last, she would like to see an 
increase in women's participation in decision-making roles, 
"without it being viewed as some sort of gift." 
Interestingly, she laid part of the blame on women 
themselves, who often nominate a man to a position of power 
because they believe "a man must be smarter." 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7.  (C)  Dlamini, who is also an ex-officio member of the 
National Executive Committee, came across as a woman with 
little confidence and little ability to stay on subject. 
However, the death of a close colleague earlier in the week 
probably contributed to her subdued mood.  She is also likely 
recovering from her role in the Travelgate scandal, in which 
Dlamini pleaded guilty to defrauding the government of 
R254,000 or roughly $35,000 for using air travel vouchers for 
hotel accomodations and luxury car rentals. Regardless of 
extenuating circumstances, however, the Women's League is 
unlikely to be rejuvenated under Dlamini's direction, despite 
the inclusion of high-profile women on its Board of 
Directors, including Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dlamini-Zuma.  At stake is a 
golden opportunity afforded to them by President Mbeki to 
influence the upcoming ANC presidential election.  For the 
first time, the ANC Women's League (and the Youth League) 
have been given 53 votes at the upcoming conference in 
December 2007.  Though a small proportion of the roughly 3400 
total votes, the bloc could be a tie breaker if delegates 
were to vote along gender lines given that 50 percent of all 
branch delegates are supposed to be women.  END COMMENT. 
BOST