“The Time is Now”: Nomvula Mokonyane Throws Her Weight Behind an ANC Female President

“The Time is Now”: Nomvula Mokonyane Throws Her Weight Behind an ANC Female President

For decades, the question has lingered in the corridors of Luthuli House and in political meetings across the country: When will the African National Congress, a liberation movement that champions equality, be ready to elect a woman as its leader and by extension, the president of South Africa? This weekend, a senior party figure offered a definitive answer. According to veteran leader Nomvula Mokonyane, the time for that question is over. The time for action is now.

In a declaration that is set to send ripples through the political landscape, Mokonyane has not only stated that the ANC is finally ready for a female president but has also put her own name forward, confirming she would stand if nominated. This moves the conversation from abstract theory to tangible possibility.

A Landmark Declaration

Mokonyane, a former minister and a current high-ranking official within the party, made her position clear during a public engagement. Her statement cuts through a long-standing and often unspoken barrier within ANC politics. While the party has a progressive gender representation policy, its top leadership position has remained exclusively male.

Her announcement is significant because of her stature. This isn’t a peripheral figure making a hopeful comment; it’s a seasoned insider stating a firm belief about the party’s readiness and her own willingness to serve at the highest level. She framed it as a natural evolution, a step the party must take to fully realize its own principles.

More Than a Personal Ambition

While Mokonyane’s willingness to be nominated is headline-grabbing, her broader message was about the institution, not the individual. She passionately argued that the ANC itself has matured to a point where its membership can look beyond gender and evaluate leadership based on capability, experience, and vision.

This is a direct challenge to the old guard and traditionalists within the party. It pushes back against the notion that a woman cannot unite the party’s complex factions or command the authority needed for the role. She is effectively arguing that the pool of talented, experienced women in the ANC is deep and that denying them the top job is an outdated concept.

Reading the Room: A Calculated Political Move

This declaration does not exist in a vacuum. The ANC is in a period of intense introspection and rebuilding after its electoral performance dipped below 50% in the last national election. There is a growing appetite, both within the party and among the public, for fresh faces and new approaches to the country’s myriad challenges.

Mokonyane’s statement is a savvy political maneuver. It aligns her with a growing demand for change and gender transformation, positioning her as a bold reformer from within. It also forces the conversation about the future of leadership into the open, well ahead of the next elective conference.

The public reaction has been swift and polarized. Supporters and proponents of gender equality have hailed it as a long-overdue and courageous step. Others on social media have questioned the timing and the messenger, framing it as a political power play.

Regardless of the mixed reception, one thing is certain: Nomvula Mokonyane has officially broken the glass ceiling of conversation within the ANC. She has placed the idea of a female president squarely on the table, making it a legitimate and unavoidable topic of debate. The question is no longer “if,” but “who” and “when.” And for the first time, a prominent leader has openly said, “I am ready.”

{Source: IOL}

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