REPORT OF THE 4th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS WOMEN'S LEAGUE

Nasrec Exhibition Centre Gauteng, 28-31 August 2003

Table of Contents

1. Introduction by the Secretary General
2. Messages of Support
3. Conference Declaration
4. Opening address by President of the ANC Cde Thabo Mbeki
5. Credentials Report
6. National Executive Committee
7. Resolutions
   • Challenges Facing the ANC Women's League
   • Status Of the Women's Movement
   • Women and Economic Empowerment
   • Governance and Legislature
   • Social Transformation
   • Finance and Fundraising
   • International Relations
   • Campaign for Women's Rights (Amina Lawal)
   • Closing Address by President

1. INTRODUCTION

   After a long and difficult process of realignment the Women's League finally held its 4th National Conference in Gauteng, Nasrec Exhibition Center. The delegates from all provinces, young and old, businesswomen, churchwomen, veterans, women activists, National Executive Committee Members, branches, invited guests, COSAS, SASCO and Alliance Partners (COSATU, SACP and SANCO) participated and constructively contributed to the objectives of the conference. The conference was held from 28th to 31 August 2003 during " Women's Month"

   The conference called for unity. Delegates were urged to put aside differences amongst women and conduct thorough discussions on challenges facing the Women's League. This would ensure that the Women's League carries out its strategic task of mobilizing women behind the vision of the African National Congress and creating a united non-sexist, non racial and democratic and a prosperous South Africa.

   The following was identified as the key tasks and challenges confronting the league for the next five years:

   1. BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION
      • Build a strong, vibrant and united Women's League.
      • Ensure that the Women's League is a women's vanguard leading the struggleor women's emancipation and gender equality.
      • Develop a new cadre of the ANC and the League that will participate in the life of the organization.
      • Build a pool of cadreship that would assume a leadership of the league.
   2. DEEPENING THE CULTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
      • Ensure that the League occupies the centre stage in campaigns aimed at deepening the culture of human rights.
      • Build partnerships with community based organizations and communities on issues pertaining to human rights.
      • Ensure that women participate actively in the organs of civil society.
      • Build a strong, progressive and dynamic women's movement that shall ensure that women speak as a united voice
   3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT
      • Ensure that women are integrated into the economic mainstream.
      • Ensure that the Black Economic Empowerment Policy and Programmes have a special bias towards women.
      • Establish a Women's Development Fund that will focus on skills development more particularly for women entrepreneurs who are in the SMME sector.
   4. CONSOLIDATE THE ANC'S POSITION
      • Mobilise women and communities to vote for the ANC so as to ensure that the ANC wins elections with overwhelming majority.
      • Ensure that within the framework of participatory democracy women participate actively in structures aimed at strengthening democracy e.g. Community Policing Forums, Ward Committees etc.
      • Continue to work hard to ensure that women are represented in all spheres of government.
      • Ensure that all ANC public representatives are credible and committed to the transformation agenda of the movement and who do not bring the ANC into disrepute.
   5. BUILD A BETTER AFRICA AND WORLD ORDER.
      • Ensure that the League plays a leading role in programmes of gender emancipation regionally, continentally and globally
      • Host the PAWO Regional Conference in the year 2004 and PAWO Continental Conference before the end of 2006.
      • Build partnerships with fraternal organizations in Africa and Internationally.
      • Continue to participate in the Socialist International and the Women Federation of Democratic Women and ensure that the work of these Organisations impact positively on the life of ordinary women.

      This report represents the views and aspirations of the 2,225 ANCWL branch delegates who attended the conference.

   BATHABILE DLAMINI
   ANCWL SECRETARY GENERAL

2. MESSAGES OF SUPPORT

1. THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO: AMBASSADOR TLALA RHOUFRANI
2. INTERVENTION DE MADAME MARIE-ODETTE LOROUGNON, PORTE PAROLE DE LA DELEGATION DE COTE- D'VOIRE
3. ANGOLA - LUZIA VANDUNEM
4. OMA - ALICE CHIVACA
5. SWAPO
6. LCD WOMEN'S LEAGUE - LESOTHO
7. MAURITIUS WOMEN
8. PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA - MR T. TAO
9. PALESTINE
10. SWAPO PARTY
11. ANC EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
12. PAC
13. INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY WOMEN'S BRIGADE
14. SACP
15. COSATU
16. SANCO
17. SASCO
18. COSAS

3. DECLARATION OF THE 4th NATIONAL CONFERENCE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS WOMEN'S LEAGUE/28-31 AUGUST 2003, NASREC, JOHANNESBURG

We, the women of the African National Congress Women's League, gathered here as representatives of branches throughout the length and breadth of our country; and having participated in this 4TH National Conference of the ANCWL, declare to our people, our country, our continent and the world to know:

We are honoured to continue along the path of the many women who fought side by side with their men-folk in the course of our long and heroic struggle, to see the birth of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

We salute these heroines of our struggle, whose names we praise - Charlotte Maxeke, Ida Mtwana, Frances Baard, Amina Cachalia, Helen Joseph, Dora Tamana, Annie Silinga, Florence Mkhize, Sophie de Bruin, Kate Molale, Dulcie September, Dorothy Nyembe, Rahima Moosa, Ray Alexander, Albertina Sisulu, Lillian Ngoyi, Gertrude Shope, Nomkhosi Mini, Ruth First, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Florence Moposho, Ntombi Shope, Ruth Mompati and many, many others - who have shown that women united can never be defeated. We are part of a movement - the African National Congress - that has represented the aspirations of our people for more than 90 years, and continues to embody their best hope for a better life.

We are members and cadres of the ANC Women's League, an organisation that for more than fifty years has struggled against the triple oppression of women.

This National Conference of the ANC Women's League takes place on the eve of the celebration of our First Decade of Freedom, during which:

• We have laid the foundations for the creation of a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society, through our Constitution, policies, institutions and laws;
• We have decisively turned the tide against apartheid's legacy and have made substantial progress in ensuring that all our people have access to housing, education, health, water and sanitation, energy and social security.
• We have begun the work of transforming our economy from a situation characterised by racial and gender exclusion, into an one that provides opportunities for all our people, including women, and in which decent livelihoods and dignity become the norm.
• We have become part of the community of nations of the world, and proudly play our role in the development and renewal of our continent. However, we know that the road is long:
• Poverty and unemployment remain the most important challenges facing our people;
• We have as yet to ensure that women and children are safe in their homes and in their communities;
• The heaviest burdens of disease rests on the shoulders of our womenfolk as primary caregivers for the sick, elderly, the frail, those with disabilities and all of us who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS,
• Millions of women remain excluded from the mainstream of the economy and their substantial economic contributions remain undervalued.
• Poverty on the continent of Africa continues to wear a dress. Women and children are most affected by war, civil strife, corruption and poverty.

Despite all these challenges, we are women who have learned from our foremothers and fathers that we can either submit or fight, that we can either organise or starve. We choose to fight and we choose to organise under the banner of the ANC and its Women's League.

This 4th National Conference of the ANCWL, held under the banner Women Together Marching into the African Century and Together Pushing Back the Frontiers of Poverty engaged in frank and open introspection. It was characterized by the spirit of criticism and self-criticism amongst comrades with the aim of cementing our unity and building the ANCWL.

We deliberated on how to ensure that the ANCWL becomes a home for all ANC women. We identified programmes that the League should champion in order to build a progressive women's movement. We addressed the question of the organisational capacity of the League to mobilize society towards women's empowerment in the social, educational, economic, criminal justice and other spheres. We discussed the role of women in social transformation, the state of the women's movement, the economic empowerment of women, legislatures and governance and many other issues of crucial importance to the emancipation of women.

We also discussed the position of women internationally and on the African continent. We were privileged to have amongst us representatives of sister organisations from throughout the continent, which inspired us with their commitment and determination, even in the face of war. We also drew inspiration from our comrades and sisters from Palestine who continue to provide a shining example to struggling women throughout the world. At this National Conference of the ANC Women's League therefore, we rededicate ourselves to the task of rebuilding the League, which remains a critical instrument for the liberation of our people from all forms of oppression and to create a better life for all.

• We dedicate ourselves to build vibrant and active ANC Women's League branches that take up the issues of women, ensure that women are able to access services that they are entitled to and are informed about the programmes of their government.
• We dedicate ourselves to ensure that the voices of women are heard in the ANC and in society, that true equality and empowerment of women becomes a reality in all spheres of life;
We dedicate ourselves to fight gender discrimination, violence and domination wherever we find it, and to create a society where our girls and boys grow up safely and as equals.
• We dedicate ourselves to work with women's organisations - in the churches and religious institutions, the cultural, economic, professional and NGO sectors, wherever they are - to build a progressive women's movement, united in the struggle to defeat gender oppression and create a better life for all our people.
• We dedicate ourselves to work for an overwhelming victory for the ANC in the 2004 Elections.
• We dedicate ourselves to join hands with our sisters and mothers across the continent and the world, to fight for a better Africa and world. We pledge our unflinching solidarity with the women of Palestine, DRC, Sudan, Liberia, Comores Islands and many others still working towards peace in their countries.

We, the delegates to this Conference, vow that the ANC Women's League will advance in unity to the Second Decade of Freedom, ready to discharge our immense responsibility to mobilise and organise the women of our country and to represent their aspirations wherever they are.

4. OPENING ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI

   THE ARMY OF WOMEN UNITED IS UNSTOPPABLE!

   Amandla!

   Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi!

   Welcome to our distinguished guests. I am very glad that you are here to contribute to the issues that we are going to engage with. The eyes of our entire movement will focus in our proceedings. They will follow our proceedings with full attention, inspired, after delays, that the League has come to meet as National Conference in terms of their constitution.

   The majority of our women in our country are ready to change. They want to fight the problems that are faced by their families. Last year we celebrated the 90 years of struggle. Our movement is responsible for progressive change. People know ANC as their teacher. When they put on black and green uniforms they wear it with pride. Many of our heroines like Ida Mtwana, Charlotte Maxeke, Albertina Sisulu, Bertha Gxowa, and Lillian Ngoyi are the women who led the struggle during the 1960's. It is the task of this national conference to take up the national agenda, with our movement must lead and organize. The central question continues to be the struggle for the emancipation of our people, for progressive change. Our people have confidence in the ANCWL. This League can say, and in very practical ways can show, what they have done to build a strong and united women's movement.

   Comrade Acting-President, I am quite certain that all of us know that the ANCWL has not been as strong as it should be. We know that from our National office at Luthuli House downwards our leaders have not performed well. Without the Women's League our women will not have a leader, an organizer, a movement.

   On my way here I heard the media speculate. All they talked about is the struggle for the position of the President. We know the challenges that we are faced with. We know the decisions that we have taken to fight for the development of our country. We need to sit and decide how are we going to use our resolutions to take these matters forward.

   Yesterday we were in Mozambique and the day after we were in Tanzania. People were discussing what can we do together to make development face the challenges of poverty, health, AIDS and peace. In the nine years that we were running the country we have made progress. People say that the ANC, ANCWL and ANCYL are the most experienced liberation fighters in our continent. They say that this movement has made a lot of changes in our country. They are counting on the WL to fight for the rights of women throughout the continent.

   Women of SA cry and ask where is this leadership who should work with us and show us the way. We need to respond to that in this National Conference. I am quite certain that this whole conference will deal with all that. When I come back from Cape Town for the Imbizo on Sunday 31 August 2003 I need to hear results of what you have decided. You must all emerge out of this NASREC strong and ready to lead the women of our country.

5. CREDENTIALS

6. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

   AS ELECTED AT THE ANCWL 4TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE: AUGUST 2003

   OFFICIALS

   Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula PRESIDENT
   Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini DEPUTY PRESIDENT
   Bathabile Dlamini SECRETARY GENERAL
   Kiki Rwexana DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL
   Bertha Gxowa TREASURER GENERAL

   ADDITIONAL MEMBERS

   Blose Happy Botha Yolanda Dlamini- Zuma Nkosazana Hangana Nomatyala Joemat Tina Kasienyane Rebecca Kgoali Joyce Komose Doborah Lesia Mildred Lobe Charlotte Mabena Thoko Madonsela Prudence Manana Sbongile Maseko Lindiwe Mashamba Joyce Mbete Baleka

   Mereeotlhe Sarah Mnandi Nana Mokonyana Nomvula Morutua Storey Motshega Angie Motubatse Dorothy Ntuli Maria Ntwanambi Nosipho Peters Dipuo Sotyu Maggie Tshabalala-Msimang Manto Tshwete Pam Twala Margaret Williams De Bruyn Sophia Xingwana Lulama

7. RESOLUTIONS
   1. ON THE CHALLENGES FACING THE ANCWL
      NOTING THAT

• Apartheid colonialism meant the systematic suppression of the talents, creativity and capacity of women. Much more than any other sector, colonial oppression and a universal patriarchal culture, including socially constructed 'gender roles' conspired to degrade women and treat them as sub-human. These gender roles permeate all spheres of life, beginning with the family, and are entrenched by stereotypes, dominant ideas, cultures, beliefs, traditions and laws. Therefore, the affirmation of gender equality is essential to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), since transformation will only have real meaning if it addresses the plight of triple oppression suffered by women.
• Since the democratic breakthrough in 1994, the NDR has indeed succeeded in radically transforming the lives of millions of women socially, politically and economically. The substantial gains that women have made in all spheres of society in the first Decade of Freedom bears testimony to the heroic efforts of the heroines of our struggle over many decades, the success of the progressive women's movement in general and the influence of the African National Congress Women's League in particular.
• The ANC Women's League (ANCWL) has a proud history of mobilising women into the ranks of the national liberation movement, placing the issues of the emancipation of women on the agenda of the ANC and giving leadership and organisational expression to struggles for gender equality in South Africa.

BELIEVING THAT

• The all encompassing nature of gender oppression continues to call for the existence of a special organisational formation, which spearheads the emancipation of women within the ANC and also organises women to mobilise for gender equality in a united, non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
• In the context of these awesome challenges, the organisational and programmatic difficulties that the Women's League has experienced since the unbanning of organisations is an impediment to the advance of the NDR and therefore must be confronted in a frank and open manner.
• Such frank and open introspection has taken place at this duly constituted Fourth National Conference of the ANCWL. Our discussions have been characterised by the spirit of criticism and self-criticism amongst comrades, with the aim of cementing our unity and building the ANCWL. A range of issues were raised and addressed, including:
• Building our capacity to draw grassroots women into action;
• Making the ANCWL a home for all women who are members of the ANC;
• Reaching out to and mobilising young women;
• Drawing in women from all social strata and racial groups;
• The role of the women's league in building and leading a broad-based movement for the emancipation of women.
• Any reinvigoration of the ANCWL must, by necessity, ensure that the branches of the League become the engines of our programmes and the building blocks of our organisation;

  Beyond the existence of the ANCWL, a progressive women's movement is required to unite all South African women around common issues and lead them in campaigns to abolish the causes and symptoms of gender oppression.

• There is an urgent need for the ANCWL to recruit and develop young women and create the space for them to play an active part in the life of the organisation, including at leadership level.

2. BUILDING THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE
   THEREFORE RESOLVES THAT:
   • The positions of SG, DSG and TG must become full-time positions, with properly staffed offices, and with clear responsibility and capacity to build the unity and cohesion of the ANCWL and to develop and implement clear programmes to advance the resolutions of this conference.
   • The NEC must immediately apply itself to the question of raising and sustaining adequate resources, including financial resources, for the functioning of the League and the implementation of its programmes, with a view to ensuring self-sufficiency.
   • There should be an ongoing programme, led by the NEC, to involve all members of the ANCWL in the life of the organisation, to revive branches and develop them on the basis of clear programmes of action. Elements of this programme should include:
   • That branch meetings of the ANCWL must become vibrant centres where we build and empower women from grass-roots level, where we educate our members, conduct political education and disseminate information on social services, political developments and economic opportunities.
   • The structures of the ANCWL, at every level, should be constituted in a manner that facilitates the flow of information throughout the organization, especially to branch level and to women at the grass roots. In addition, the documents of the ANCWL, including its Constitution, should be made accessible to its membership, and should be translated into many languages as possible.
   • Political education and umrabulo must become central to all the programmes of the ANCWL, including the programme of revitalising branches. Induction workshops, both for newly elected leadership and newly recruited membership, must become a regular feature of our organisational practice.
   • The national, provincial and regional leadership collectives of the ANCWL should have clear programmes for building branches, including deployment of members on branch visits, which are monitored by higher structures.
   • We further resolve that the incoming NEC must Develop a single programmatic framework within which all branches and structures of the ANCWL can develop and localise their own programmes.
   • Establish programmes to involve the veterans of our struggle in the life of the organisation at all levels, particularly in relation to political education and other activities that sustain the values, cultures and traditions of the ANC and the progressive women's movement.
   • Review the membership system and membership fee of the ANCWL, taking account of the character and differentiated nature of our membership, the need for the ANCWL to raise its own resources and the fact that ANCWL members are required to pay fees for membership of both the ANC and the ANCWL.
   • Conduct an audit of skills that reside within the membership of the ANCWL so as to support our programmes of skills development within the organisation. This should go hand in hand with programmes for the empowerment and capacitating of ANCWL leaders.
3. BUILDING A PROGRESSIVE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT
   • The ANCWL must redouble its efforts to lead the building of a mass based progressive women's movement, capable of uniting all South African women around common programmes that address the question of gender-based oppression. In this regard, the Women's National Coalition (WNC) remains relevant to the task of uniting all women in opposition to gender oppression and, therefore, the ANCWL should lead the revitalisation of the WNC and take active part in developing its programme.
   • Furthermore, the ANCWL, at all levels, must itself consciously reach out to organisations, NGO's, influential leaders and sectors in the community, especially those addressing questions related to gender oppression in order to ensure constant communication and interaction with women in our communities.
   • This should also apply at the level of the ANCWL branch, where we must recognise, appreciate and work together with community leaders from all spheres of society (e.g. religious, business, sports, cultural), especially those who are ANC members
   • The ANCWL must also work together with the ANC Youth League and organisations of young women to develop a programme of action for young women, which unites them around matters of common interest, beyond political affiliation. An element of this programme should be aimed specifically at young women active in religious organisations.
4. TOWARDS ELECTION 2004
   • The ANCWL must participate fully in all election structures of the ANC at every level and ensure the all round mobilisation of women towards another overwhelming victory of the ANC in the 2004 general election The most pressing task facing all of us as we depart from this conference is to unite all progressive forces in the campaign to register more than 7 million voters for the forthcoming general election in 2004;
   • Part of this would include a campaign to ensure that all women have IDs and are therefore able to register and take advantage of social services offered by our government.
   • The ANCWL should develop specific programmes for the registration of young women in rural areas and informal settlements
5. THE STATUS OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT

   NOTING THAT

   • We have not been able to claim our victories
   • Our inability to utilize our maximum cultural diversity existing within our country has delayed the process of formalizing the women's movement.
   • Inability to utilize the available human resources available within our diverse communities e.g. CBO, NGO's which are sympathetic to the ANC.
   • Inability to accommodate the use different languages thus limiting adequate participation in the law making process.
   • Inadequate communication between leadership and the grass root structures particularly in rural areas.
   • Inadequate management and monitoring of our own programs, which lead to, these being hijacked by other forces.
   • Inability to develop strategic approaches to different circumstances. Lack of the ability to identify potential recruits to our branches. Believing that
   • We have the lobbying power, internationally recognized, our partnership with sister organizations, nationally and internationally
   • We have the ability to mobiles women around women's issue.
   • We have gender machinery established by government i.e. the Gender Commission, gender focal points in government department, Office of the Status of Women, parliamentary committee on the status of women to ensure monitoring and implementation of policies.
   • Constitution and the bill of rights, which gives us an advantage over other countries, which do not have a similar institution and instruments.
   • Government supports for women's emancipation provides us with an advantage to advance women's programmes
   • The Women's National Coalition has served its purpose

   Therefore resolved to

   • Build a progressive women's movement
   • Make it apriority that the incoming leadership be charged with discussing the folding of the Women's National Coalition.
   • Promote the process of discussions within the Alliance and with cdes who are in the coalition
   • Take on board all participants in the coalition about the importance of the women's movement
   • Join hands with the existing women's dialogue already initiated by the office of our First Lady.
   • Organise a women's dialogue to deal with women from different cultural backgrounds
   • Draw up a programme and put in place a strategy to reach out to women from different formations.
   • Involve all women in the ANC in the process of formalising a strong women's movement.
   • Include women from different racial backgrounds and sectors in the women's movement discourse.
   • Form a steering committee led by the alliance that will identify a common agenda for the women's movement.
   • Broaden our interaction with other sectors by asking women ministers to organize regular sector meetings.
   • Create a database of progressive women's organizations with the aim of networking with women so as to persuade them to be part of the women's movement.

   We further resolve to mobilise women behind the following programmes and campaigns:

• Fight poverty by working with government and civil society to deliver adequate services we need to ensure that all those who deserve them access grants.
• Communicate and disseminate information to communities so that people are made aware of every government programme and any difficulties being experienced in the delivery of such programmes.
• Establish mechanisms to monitor the misuse of the child support grants.
• Encourage women councillors to organise themselves around concerns and problems facing women in their localities e.g. distribution of free basic services.
• Promote the participation of women in the economy and access to financial services. We must be part of the campaign for access to credit and other financial services for women.
• Identify and support more ways of providing income for poor families through social grants, self-employment, and more job creation initiatives. Instil a culture of voluntarism in our society.
• Address the challenge of unemployment by empowering women through providing accredited training on business planning, community development and general project management.
• Actively participate in the moral regeneration movement and mobilise through this campaign in order to deepen democracy and instill new values in our society.
• Challenge domestic violence and abuse at home in relationships and community.
• Promote active participation of women in governance committees in our communities so as to enhance our participation in government policy implementation and be agents for change where we live.
• To promote access by women to all forms of learning, in particular adult education and training.
• To focus on drugs and substance abuse as it is affecting our families, children and communities.
• We need to ensure that the girl child accesses education in science, technology, math's etc. and there must be a quota, targets and indicators for the programme of training women and the girl child.
• We need to ensure that we protect our women from all forms of abuse including financial abuse in our communities, e.g., funeral schemes, and money-lending schemes with high interest rates.
• Build skills among our members and women broadly so that they can be able to influence and shape development and the allocation of resources within local government. With such skills, women can play a central role in ward committees women's projects in communities should not be limited to projects such as sewing. The projects we promote must include construction, road rehabilitation, and environmental projects.
• Address the specific needs and aspirations of women with disabilities such as accessible transport facilities.
• Revive the culture of reporting back of league leaders and members to structures of the League at all levels. Reporting back to communities must be open and seek to draw all women in our respective areas and not only invite league members. After this conference, national leadership should coordinate the process of report back. This reporting back must also include a report of all the agreements made at the recent women's dialogue. To use accessible language and local languages whenever we address and report back to our people. Reporting back must help to draw membership to the ANC and WL.
• Create more awareness about diseases, which are largely prevalent among women such as breast and cervical cancer intensify our campaign on communicable diseases such as TB and HIV and AIDS and communicate the government programme on the above.
• Help women to register children with Home Affairs so that they can apply for grants.
• Help women in our communities to access government resources that are for improving the quality of lives of women and for creating a better life.
6. ON WOMEN AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

   Noting that

   • Resolutions of the 1997, 3rd ANC Women's League conference in Rustenburg, 2001 ANC WL consultative conference in Johannesburg and ANC's 51 Stellenbosch conference are still relevant and can add value in the fight for women's emancipation.
   • Women have not been prioritised on issues related to economy more particularly black economic empowerment.
   • Financial institutions are not friendly to women.
   • Economy related documents such as tender documents are not user friendly. There is no quota, targets and indicators that can assist in ensuring that women are participating in the economy of the country.
   • There is no funding that is directed at developing women's skills on the issues of finance, running a business etc.
   • There is no strong relationship between a few economically empowered women and ordinary women.
   • There is no plan to ensure that communities are beneficiaries of black economic empowerment.

   Believing that

   • Women have the capacity to participate in broader countries economic activity through development of survival programmes such as stokvels into co-operatives.
   • Women have the capacity to learn new economic challenges and learn skills for sustaining business.
   • Have the ability to participate in SMME's since they are the ones who have the experience in this.
   • Have a role to play in Black Economic Empowerment. Therefore resolved that
   • The resolutions of the 1997 3rd ANC WL Rustenburg Conference, ANC WL 2001 Johannesburg consultative conference and ANC 51 Stellenbosch conference resolutions are still relevant and the incoming National Executive Committee must continue to base its programmes on these resolutions.
   • There must be training of women with experience so as to improve their dynamism on the issues of arts and crafts by exposing them to more opportunities such as jewellery making.
   • Scholarships must be provided so that women can be empowered with the economy skills.
   • Procurement procedures, policies and documents must be user friendly and be simple so that all people interested in them can access them without prejudice.
   • Legislative framework that governs procurement must be improved with the aim of ensuring this benefits the previously disadvantaged more particularly women
   • 30 % of Black Economic Empowerment funding must be allocated to women.
   • Extended public works programme and community based public works must dedicate 50 % of projects to women e.g., construction.
   • Local Economic Development must support women in communities with projects that are aimed at uplifting communities. Municipalities should also establish empowerment funds to support these projects.
   • Investigate the possibilities of establishing a women's development fund.
   • Investigate possibilities of establishing a women's bank, co-operatives.
   • Review Malibongwe's role and mandate to ensure that there is accountability.
   • Assist women to enter into mining and make it possible for women to get start up funds from the financial institutions.
   • Lottery funds should be used to support women in the rural areas.
   • The incoming NEC must organize a workshop to discuss what can the WL do to ensure that resolutions taken at the growth and development summit are implemented and benefit women.
7. GOVERNANCE AND LEGISLATURE

   The conference of the ANCWL endorsed resolutions of the Stellenbosch National Conference of 2002 51st ANC on Governance and Legislature and resolutions on women's emancipation

   Noting that:

   • That the people of S.A. led by the ANC, have attained elements of political power and that we are faced with a task of deepening democracy and implementing socio/economic programmes for the upliftment of the lives of the people.
   • The new democratic institutions, laws and ratification of the convention on the elimination on all forms of discrimination of women have gone a long way towards creating a conducive environment within which to pursue the struggle for gender equality.
   • Women constitute the majority of the poor and vulnerable section of the society and that gender oppression in various spheres of life remains one of the clear legacies of apartheid.

   Believing that:

   To rid South African society of social relations of inequality based on race, gender and geography, requires united efforts of the democratic forces to ensure the implementation of the RDP in all its facets: and that the success of these endeavors will be possible only with the active participation of women, in both urban and rural areas.

   Therefore resolve to:

   • Take various measures to empower women to play an active role in social transformation and thus change their lives for the better. Conference commits itself to the following:
   • Ensure that the provisions of the constitution on gender equality are made a living reality.
   • Work towards at least a minimum of 30% of women representation in the legislatures and executive at national, provincial and local levels; and ensure that these leaders are afforded the necessary skills to carry out their functions and lobby for legislation to give effect to this;
   • Co-operate with the commission on gender equality and to campaign for the gender commission to have the necessary resources and infrastructure at all levels to fulfill its mandate.
   • Promote the employment of more women in management positions in the public service by 30% in five years including the army, police and intelligence and foreign services and encourage the elimination of all forms of discriminatory practices against women,
   • Strengthen the institutions in charge of promoting the upliftment of women in government and to urge all legislatures and the ANC in particular to work towards a more gender sensitive budget, particularly in the context of the Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work.
   • Ring fence amounts for gender programmes in all spheres of government (MTEF).
   • Implement performance management for senior and middle managers to include gender as a key performance area.

   Further resolve that:

   • The municipal managers should establish a desk of the status of women and place them in the Mayor's office.
   • Those ANC Provincial gender committees must be responsible for monitoring gender impact in legislation.
8. On poverty relief

   Noting

   The existing programmes of government on nutrition, free health care, social security. Therefore resolve to:

   • Encourage women to take full advantage and participate in these programmers through dissemination of information, strong local organization, and skills in planning, research and the management, monitoring, implementing and evaluation of projects

9. On health

   Noting that

   • The positive impact of the Presidential Lead Projects in the Health sector including free healthcare for pregnant women and the primary school nutrition programmes.
   • The effort towards extending primary healthcare services to areas previously deprived and disadvantaged

   Therefore resolve to

   • Persuade the ANC Government to expand further programmers on women's health and reproductive rights
   • The incoming NEC to look at monitoring mechanisms to access various programmers affecting women's health
   • To lobby for expediting devolution of primary health care facilities to local government
10. On Education and Skills Development

    Noting that

    Apartheid patriarchy has systematical excluded black women and African women in particular in the areas of skills development, science, information and technology, math's.

    Therefore resolve

    That the League should engage government, NGO's, the private sector and individuals to ensure:

    • More literacy programmes are implemented in rural areas
    • Gender friendly skills training programmes are put into place and do not limit women to unchallenging jobs.
    • Blacks and especially rural women should have greater access to higher education such as Science, information technology and mathematics.
    • That education facilities and resources are accessible to women through provision of transport in rural and disadvantaged areas
    • That WL branches encourage women to actively participate in school governing bodies.
11. On Women and the Economy

    Noting that

    • There is continuous exclusion of women from the economic mainstream of the society and the fact that they constitute the majority of the unemployed
    • Reconstruction and development is still relevant for creating a better life for all

Therefore resolve that

• The incoming NEC should convene within the next three months a Special Conference on Women and Economic Empowerment.
• Women should be represented on forums of government and other sectors of society dealing with socio-economic programmes.
• Establish a women's development fund.
• Initiate the establishment of a homegrown financial institution for disadvantaged women.
• Participate network and lobby on behalf of women on issues of legislation that is related to economic issues e.g., preferential procurement and BEE.

12. On the relationship between the ANCWL and its public representatives

Noting that:

• The ANCWL has been instrumental in ensuring that women are in all three spheres of government]
• There is a need for greater coordination amongst ANC women parliamentarians the ANCWL and various women in influential positions in government especially in the civil service.

Therefore resolved that

• We therefore resolve that the ANCWL policy desk should facilitate ongoing consultation with ANCWL members serving in various legislatures and the league.
• The ANCWL conducts a skills audit of all ANCWL members and update it regularly.
• The policy desk should convene forums of MP's, other women in govt. civil society and the private sector to discuss policies and legislation that impact on women.
• Fulltime WL officials should participate in parliamentary caucuses at all levels National it must be a national official at provincial level it must be a provincial officials so as to strengthen the role of women in decision making structures and to ensure that ordinary women participate in the law making process.
• The next ANC national conference looks at the establishment of gender desks at all levels of its structures
13. ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF WOMEN

    Noting that

    • Our new democratic constitution to make significant advances in the status of women in our country
    • A number of laws have been repealed which discriminated against women. Despite the above, women continue be disadvantaged by customary, religious and cultural practices

    Believing that:

    • There is a need for legislation to affect various constitutional rights to eliminate all existing discriminatory laws.

    Therefore resolve that

    The ANCWL policy desk should look into:

    • Fast tracking of legislation on the status of women such as the harmonization of customary and civil marriage laws, the customary law of succession, the sexual offences bill and the compulsory HIV testing of alleged sexual offences bill.
    • Engage in debates to reach consciences on the position of commercial sex workers.
    • Make submissions to relevant portfolio committees on legislation that has a bearing on the status of women.
    • ANCWL should establish a legal resource centre for its members.
    • The revisions of the customary marriages act to by men who abuse the act.
14. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

    Noting:

    • That the process of globalization is generally marginalizing women more than any sector in society especially developing countries
    • The instability and conflicts experienced in some parts of our continent have led to massacres, massive displacements and suffering of people, the bulk of whom are women and children.
    • That as a country we are signatories to International agreements such as Beijing platform for action and CEDAW

    Believing that

    • The struggle for women's emancipation in our country is integral to the struggles for social emancipation and gender equality worldwide and in particular in our continent

    Therefore resolves that

    • ANCWL must strive to build bilateral relations with women's organizations, which broadly share the same principles and objectives in the continent.
    • Build relations with women organizations in SADC countries that share our vision and to contribute to the women's movement put the gender and children's issues on the agenda of SADC and the AU.
    • Launch solidarity campaigns with women in conflict situations the continent and assist, and participate in peace initiatives.
    • Participate and involve the WL in a meaningful way in regional, continental and international for including various United Nations Agencies on gender.
    • Strengthen links with the ANC department of International Affairs.
    • ANC & the ANCWL should deploy more women into the foreign services and the WL to keep such data.
15. SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

    Noting that,

    • The ushering of the new democratic dispensation has resulted in the adoption of a democratic constitution which recognizes the rights of women and has made provisions for the establishment of institutions which enhances gender equality in our country
    • The democratic government and the majority of the people are confronting the challenge of fighting poverty and building a better life for all,
    • improving access to water and sanitation, ensuring that all those who are eligible for social grants register and access these services,
    • And, that these programmes must be also directed at addressing the plight of many women who are still trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, Further noting,
    • The urgent task of mobilizing women to be actively involved in programmes aimed at alleviating poverty, including the fight for the eradication of communicable diseases such as TB, HIV, and AIDS, breast cancer and other health -related diseases,

    And that this task is compounded by: -

    • The lack of managerial skills and proper systems in some government departments
    • The lack of monitoring mechanisms and non -inclusion of communities and women in particular in service delivery

    Believing that,

    • The ANC government remains committed to changing the lives of the people and building a better life for all,
    • The ANC government eradicated all discriminatory laws against women and established policies, which empower women to play an active role in building a bright future for the country, and it's people.

    Therefore resolves that,

    • The ANC WL leads the process of formalizing the women's movement to ensure t hat the agenda for women's emancipation and gender equality is prioritized in the transformation processes in our country and that women fight for emancipation as a formidable, united single force.
    • The ANC WL should strengthen its policy committees to monitor and advocate for implementation of programmes aimed at addressing the plight of women
    • The ANC WL mobilizes for resources for the implementation of these programmes
    • The ANC WL ensures that women get the necessary training to ensure that they participate in governance and civil society structures.
    • The ANC WL intensifies awareness and education programmes on HIV and AIDS.
    • The ANC WL will ensure that ABET programmes and Early Childhood Development programmes are made accessible to women especially in rural areas.
    • The ANC WL advocates and spearheads programmes of foster parenting to child headed households.
    • The ANC WL will strengthen the volunteer programme of ANC YL
    • The ANC W L to fast track the process of finalizing the Child Justice Bill for the benefit of abused women and children
16. On AUDITING

    Noting that:

    • The financial situation of the ANC Women's has improved dramatically.
    • The league has been able to audit its finances since 1997 on an annual basis.
    • Financial accounting systems have improved.

    Resolve that

    • The incoming NEC must continue to adhere to financial accounting procedures.
    • Ensure adherence and implementation of all auditors' recommendations with clear monitoring mechanisms.
    • The validity of the auditor's reports and the recommendations in the report are accepted by conference.
17. MEMBERSHIP

    Noting that

    • Branches have not been receiving their allocation of membership
    • That the membership system of the women's league made it impossible to allocate branch quota to their accounts.
    • The cost of printing and processing of membership packs and cards far exceeds the income received from membership, and this has an effect on the redistribution of funds from the membership account to branch accounts.

    Therefore resolved that:

    • The NEC must explore ways of improving the entire membership system of the League
    • Those outstanding 1/3 allocations to branches are written off but with the provision that within a year a system will be developed for allocations to be effectively distributed to branches.
18. ON FINANCIAL SYSTEMS

    Noting

    • The absence of proper financial systems within the ANC WL financial structures.
    • Absence of finance and fundraising policy for the league
    • Inability to comply to acceptable standards of internal control systems due to insufficient staff capacity in the TGO.
    • Lack of capacity and proper induction for Treasurers in Provinces, Regions and branches on financial systems
    • Lack of a Programme of Action on Finances to guide structures

    Therefore resolved that

    • There must be concerted effort to increase capacity of treasurers through training.
    • Office of the Treasurer General should develop a Finance and Fundraising Policy manual to guide all structures.
    • The NEC through the Treasurer General's office should ensure that guidelines on the establishment of Finance and Fundraising Committees at all levels of the league are developed and distributed with clear roles and functions. A National Bookkeeper should be employed with immediate effect.
    • Every launched branch should open a bank account; the Treasurer General's office should guide structures on the implementation process.

19. FUNDRAISING

    Noting that:

    • The lack of financial sustainability for the ANC WL
    • Uncoordinated fundraising activities throughout the structures
    • Lack of programme to reach out to other supporters and of the league for fundraising purposes,
    • Inability of the league to tap into opportunities that are created by the new dispensation
    • Whilst the constitution recognises that fundraising should be every members responsibility, there is no clear guidelines on coordination and monitoring of the above,

    Believing that

    • Women, properly guided and inducted can contribute and raise funds for the league
    • That a lot of basic fundraising activities at branch level can improve both the profile and image of the league
    • There is potential for lower structures to work towards the sustenance of the league at Headquarters through quarterly levies,

    Therefore resolve that:

    • A strategic workshop must be organised to consolidate a fundraising policy and programme.
    • A clear Programme of Action to be developed.
    • The Fundraising Committee must be appointed with immediate effect to ensure implementation of these resolutions,
20. MALIBONGWE

    Noting that

    • The presentation on the new role of Malibongwe to ensure Woman's initiatives are natured and do not collapse
    • The plan to have Malibongwe agents in all wards throughout the country We therefore resolved that:
    • The League should support Malibongwe
    • Ensure accountability of members from provinces serving in Malibongwe Board
    • Information distribution to all branches to strengthen women with projects through Malibongwe.
    • All provinces must have Malibongwe committees that are going to look into empowerment of women and skills development.
21. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

    On challenges facing women in Africa

    Noting:

    • At the heart of the problems in Africa is the question of Poverty.
    • Women are the first victims of this because of the role they occupy in society as caregivers and mothers.
    • African Women are excluded from the mainstream of the economic participation because of patriarchy and cultural bias.
    • Women are most affected by debt incurred by their governments. Believing:
    • Our governments are highly indebted to multilateral institutions.
    • Basic needs like health, housing, education are central to development of societies especially women.
    • Multilateral institutions benefit from this debt, therefore are adding to the problem of service delivery.

    Therefore resolve:

    • To lobby for the debt alleviation in the continent through all the structures we participate in like PAWO, SWI etc.
    • Extend and facilitate for ABET through out the African Continent and other related campaigns like economic development.
    • Strengthen our relationship with our sister organizations and trade unions on issues affecting women throughout SADC.
    • Use our position in SADC to influence women's development both economically and socially.
    • Encourage active participation of women in the economy through both project based initiatives and Small Medium Micro Enterprise's (SMME's).
    • Encourage trade between women of the South (South/South) and lobby for our government to strengthen this approach.
    • Extend our ABC and positive living campaign to sister countries and learn from their experiences on matters pertaining to all communicable diseases like HIV and AIDS.

    Role of women in achieving peace in Africa

    Noting:

    • The postcolonial era has not brought all envisaged results.
    • All problem of Africa are linked to neo-liberal tendencies
    • War and Conflict are direct results of the above.

    Believing:

    • Solutions of Africa are within its own hands.
    • Women are most affected by instabilities
    • All forms of violations are punishable by international laws.

    Resolve:

    • To lobby for the strengthening and implementation of NEPAD. Encourage for the ratification of A.U. protocol on women by all heads of state. Encourage for the Peer Review mechanism to be bias to women.
    • Campaign for the punishment of all those who violate international conventions on war and women.
    • Encourage for the representation of women in all our peacekeeping missions. Support the Women's Dialogue by the 1st Lady and all related projects.
    • Lobby for international Solidarity on Peace and Stability.
    • Implement long overdue decision to take over the PAWO secretariat.

    On Influencing Multilateral Formations

    Noting that:

    • Participation in multilateral formations is key in achieving our international obligations.
    • Our participation in PAWO.SWI and other related structures is paramount to achieve this.

    Believing that:

    • The WL has a strategic role to play in this arena.
    • Preparations are key to success.

    Resolve to:

    • Restructure PAWO according to the A.U. principles within three months of office of the new NEC.
    • Continue to participate in the above structures.
    • Propose to incoming NEC to facilitate debates on current matters in the international.
    • Affirm the leadership role of the WL in Africa.
22. RESOLUTION ON AMINA LAWAL

    Noting that:

    • Women on the African Continent and the world over are still confronted with discrimination and oppression,
    • The rise of the rightwing and fundamentalism threatens to reverse the gains women achieved.

    Believing that:

    • The right to gender equality is a fundamental right,
    • That all states and the governments should adhere to international human rights conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
    • The Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women (CEDAW) supercedes all secular and clerical laws,

    Therefore resolves to:

    • Condemn all violations of human rights, including the imposition of cruel and inhuman punishments under the guise of religious of all forms of discrimination against women.
    • Urge all states to take active measures to promote women's human rights, in accordance with the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
    • Call for the eradication of all cultural and religious practices injurious to women's well being and contrary to international human rights norms.
    • Urge the African Union and other bodies to develop effective programs for the advancement of women on the continent.

    Therefore further resolves:

    • To appeal to the President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria to expeditiously exercise the presidential prerogative of pardon to ensure that Amina Lawal is not executed.
    • To call upon President Thabo Mbeki, as our President to make appropriate representations to his peers and in particular to President Obasanjo.
23. SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

Noting:

• The decision of the 51st National Congress of the ANC on the following matters:
• Amina Lawal, Peace and Stability in Africa and the Middle East.
• The matters relating to women in all this conflicts are treated with urgency

Resolve:

• To implement all the decisions of the ANC on this matters.
• Heighten the Campaign on Amina Lawal within four weeks.
• Continue and strengthen our solidarity work, especially with the women of Palestine, Cote d'vore and other African countries in conflict.
• Lobby our international friends of the ANC to take up these campaigns.

8. ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY COMRADE NOSIVIWE MAPISA NQAKULA AS PRESIDENT OF THE ANCWL

   Comrades and Friends, I will err if in my acceptance speech I do not share with you the obvious. That in accepting this responsibility I do so in the knowledge that much of the work of rebuilding this organisation has already been done by the hard working women who have led from up here before me.

   The resilience and lack of fear of my predecessor comrade Madikizela-Mandela has given me the reassurance that it is possible to be great in stature and yet humble and ordinary in the eyes of even those that depends on your leadership. There is no separating the ANCWL from this great leader to whom we owe so much as an organisation and as a nation.

   Of course she herself had taken the baton and even shared her work with other great stalwarts of our organisation. As we take this organisation forward we recall the wisdom of those who are still amongst us, Albertina Sisulu, Gertrude Shope, Amina Cachalia, Adelaide Tambo, Sophie du Bruin and Ruth Mompati. We are proud to continue in the footsteps of this generation of leaders from whom we have learnt that ours is not a struggle to harbour bitterness and that our sincerity and integrity as a people is determined by actions that are difficult and unselfish and so is the virtue of forgiveness.

   We are where we are as nation due to the hearts and clear minds of these leaders of our people.

   Our 4th national Conference now draws to a close. During this Conference those of us in the new NEC had been given a necessary opportunity to listen to you for directives in terms of what needs to be done by our organisation as we leave the Nasrec Expo Centre later this afternoon. Indeed the women have spoken. They have directed that we need to spare no effort in uniting our organisation. It has been an overwhelming call in unison that the ANCWL should a united force that is capable of leading the women of our country as we advance the gains made by our struggles for a better future. The women have spoken, and they have said that the ANC WL should be placed at the centre stage of the ANC's programme and that women should play a meaningful role in the life of our Movement.

   The women have said that we need to build a much stronger organisation whose foundation should be dynamic branches that are capable of taking community issues at ward level. They have said that our cadreship development programmes should be intensified and more members from all walks of life should swell the ranks of the ANCWL in order for it to become a political home for every woman in our country.

   The women have spoken and they have unequivocally reaffirmed the urgency with which we need to move to establish the national Women's Movement of our country to provide a common platform for women to operate and function as a cohesive force in addressing issues affecting them and our country in general.

   And yes indeed the women have spoken here in one voice and this leadership that has emerged from this Conference has listened. It should be significant that today we close this the historic 4th National Conference of our organisation on the same day as we wrap up the month of women in our country. We could not have asked for a more symbolic conclusion.

   During the past four days, we who have gathered here, representing aspirations of millions of women all over our land, have had an opportunity to introspect our organisation, to analyse objectively its weaknesses and challenges and to develop a programmatic road map that will become the vehicle to address those challenges. We should therefore applaud those of you who have taken your time away from your families and your jobs to make yourselves available to be delegated by our people to represent them here as conference delegates, as honoured guests and as organisers of this conference. In true characteristics of leadership you have displayed selflessness and dedication to the cause of those you serve.

   Under the banner, Women Marching Together into the African century, this Conference has succeeded in sowing some of the necessary seeds to foster the cooperation and togetherness of women in a strategic unity aimed at achieving our minimum goal of ensuring that women are rightfully placed in order for them to contribute meaningfully to the building of our country and our society. As we depart from here today, we send out a message of a more united organisation, a determined membership and a programme of Action capable of moving us much closer to our goals. We have been unsparing in our resolve to build a much stronger organisation and to steer the Women's League into the centre place of our people's development and the rebuilding our nation. The forefront of this struggle is where the Women's League of the ANC belongs. Our membership and women in general have asked for stronger organisation, and this Conference has resolved to give them just that. They have called for a dynamic programme that addresses all aspects of their lives, and we have resolved to do just that, they have asked for more cohesion and working together and we cannot afford fail them in this regard.

   During this period when we have marked the month of women, some of you might have observed media reports about the different experiences in the daily lives of women in South Africa.

   In the same month two women and a toddler were killed in Pretoria due to crime, another received a glamorous Woman of the Year Award for community service, another was left destitute and bruised physically and emotionally from abuse by their husband, yet another celebrated an economic empowerment deal as part of a women's business initiative.

   These somewhat isolated incidences in the lives of women in our country reinforce our resolve during this Conference that the women that we organise and represent as an organisation are not homogeneous, they have very different experiences, different standing and placing in our society, their aspirations and concerns differ on the basis of their conditions, but yet the organisational challenge is that they all should find a home within the ANC Women's League. That our success in addressing the key organisational challenge facing us will depend on whether women is South Africa, no matter who they are, can look at the Women's League and say, "it is an organisation for people like me". That whether black, white, disabled, young, educated, rich or poor, they can feel that there is a political home big and relevant enough for them to belong.

   So, we are called upon to provide leadership to society, women in particular. In this regard we should appreciate and reemphasise the resolution by this Conference to start engaging with other Women organisations on the issue of the establishment of the National Women's Movement.

   We are strong in our resolve that this Movement can only take shape if the Women's League is in the forefront of this process.

   This concept of leadership, which is about providing direction, ensuring hegemony and occupying the moral high ground, is at the centre of ensuring that the ANC mobilises a broad front of forces behind the transformation agenda in order to negate the strength of those forces opposed to such an agenda. This means that members ANCWL cannot confine themselves to a political corner isolated from the rest of the community structures that exist in areas where our branches organise. If the ANC branch is to provide leadership to the communities, the members of the ANC WL will be found integrated in every place where women are. They will be in Churches, in burial societies, in sports, in training centres, they will be in educational institutions, in the workplace and as part of these establishment they will then live up to our conviction that every member is an organiser.

   Comrade Chair and Delegates, I must say that at the beginning of this Conference I was moved by the messages of support that we had received from some of our fraternal and sister organisations that have come from all over the world.

   Of particular note and interest to me has been the message from the delegation representing the Cote d'voire in which they have reminded us of the need to re-cultivate some of the important values that should underpin our revolutionary character as an organisation.

   We should all of us show concern, and not be indifferent to the suffering of others. The story painted here in that message was that of the horror experienced by child soldiers and women who suffer abuse and death at the hands of war mongers who are greedy and selfish to the extent of extracting unborn babies from their mothers wombs just to register fear and gain power. Our country continues to play an important an important role in providing leadership to the continent's regeneration through the interventions by the Government and the ANC as led by our President. The strategic interventions that our country has played in assisting other nations such Liberia and the Congo have given us an example that as women we should emulate in engaging with other women organisations in the Continent.

   At this stage I feel I need to take this opportunity to acknowledge the significance of sis Zanele Mbeki's efforts to bring together women from different warring factions in the Congo to a dialogue on the problems facing their country. I firmly believe that this intervention has today laid a strong foundation in building the peace that is holding on in the Congo. The suffering women of the world have an expectation on an organisation with a capacity and history such as ours. There is a reasonable expectation that the ANCWL should in the first place take up its role as a catalyst in dealing with the suffering of women in other nations of our continent of Africa.

   Specifically it should be a point of concern for us that in the recent past the capacity PAWO has been eroding and that the significance of its voice within the continent is fading. We will urge the incoming NEC to dedicate special attention to the issue of the restructuring of PAWO to be in line with the new structural developments that are as the result of the establishment of the AU.

   The opportunities that have been created with the embracing of the NEPAD programme should be exploited for the benefit of women in Africa. The ANCWL should strengthen its relationship with other similar organisations in the continent to ensure that a consolidated effort is made to strengthen the participation of women in the AU and in NEPAD programmes. We will need to identify these opportunities, enhance them, but most importantly to educate women about them.

   It has been the resolve of this conference that addition to these efforts we should include the issue of the contribution the ANCWL can make in the life of the WIDF both globally and within our region here.

   The ANCWL needs to stand and raise its voice as a movement opposed to the wars that have resulted in human suffering.

   Both here at home and globally, we should condemn in the strongest terms the abuse of women and children. We should call for the isolation of Governments and organisations that through their laws and actions perpetuate this suffering. In this regard I need to reiterate the call by this Conference that Amina Lawal does not deserve to die in the hands of the self appointed police of morality in Nigeria. That her death at the hands of these people goes against everything that we stand for and that its consequences have serious implication for the well being of those close to her, particularly her son.

   The ANC WL will add its voice in opposition of this act of barbarism. We are calling on the leadership of the AU to move into Nigeria and to intervene by stopping this planned execution.

   Comrades, as we gathered here and concerned ourselves with the business of Conference, there had been prophets of doom who had written the obituary of organisation and declared that we will be rocked by divisions across ethnical lines. Some of these commentators had predicted that our Conference would be so paralysed that we will not be able to conclude the business for which we have gathered here. For those of you who understand the ANC and the ANCWL it will be common knowledge that such tendencies cannot find expression amongst us. Contrary to these insinuations we can proudly say that this has been a successful Conference.

   We have been here as delegates representing many of our branches and we have been able to conclude the business of our Conference as planned. We emerge from here more united and focused on the programme at hand. We should thank all delegates for this uniting spirit that has been displayed here.

   During the heat of our mobilisation against the Apartheid regime, our people would await the "line of march" from the leadership regarding the Programme of Action. This line of march determined the cause of action and guided the activities of the structures of the movement in the underground, in the country, within our military structures and find its way into the prisons where so many of our comrades were kept. As this Congress draws to a close we need to reiterate clearly what line of march has emerged here during the past four days of deliberations.

   Conference has noted that today the progressive forces in our country have moved strategically to a position of power where certain advances in the object of our revolution have been made possible. We have also noted that, although it was difficult in the beginning, the majority of ordinary South Africans, black and white have been mobilised behind this agenda.

   We have however also acknowledged that despite these advances, the conditions of lives for the majority of our people have remained the same and that although we have changed most of the structures that govern our society, we cannot afford peaceful sleep while some amongst us go hungry, die of curable diseases, live in conditions of squalor and have no access to decent and acceptable living standards.

   The consolidation of the struggle for the qualitative emancipation of women should remain our central programmatic imperative. We need to acknowledge the kind of progress that Government has made in addressing some of the issues with regard to stemming abuse of women and children, opening of opportunities for women in the economic sector and the representation of women in decision making structures. We will continue to emphasise the issue of gender mainstreaming in all Government programmes as already advocated by the ANCWL. As we advance this cause, we will continue to support those initiatives of Government that further addresses these issues. Of course where we do not agree with Government the ANCWL will engage strongly with Government on such matters.

   In providing the 'line of march' from this Conference therefore, the ANCWL should lend its contribution to strengthen the advancement of these gains of our revolution and to ensure that more and more of our people benefit as they should from the logical conclusion of our Revolution.

   In a few months time we will take another step in defending these gains by mobilising all of our people to go back to the polls and vote to re-elect the ANC government so that this transformation agenda should continue. The tasks for us as the Women' League of the ANC is to mobilise women behind the banner of the ANC as the only vehicle capable of leading this country to a future that all our people deserve.

   So, to the battle - we command you all.

   A strong ANCWL and the logical conclusion of our struggle is the only consolation we and reward we can offer to the spirit of Charlotte Maxeke, Ida Mtwana, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph. That for those who are gone and those who remain, the plight of women in this country rests with this organisation. We dare not fail.

   Amandla!