WDF Celebrates Pioneering Women MPs

By Vusi Moloi © 2011

There were only a few women in the South African parliament (less than 1%) during the National Party government before 1994. The gender imbalance was radically corrected in 1994 when fresh troops, numbering more than 100 women and mostly from the African National Congress, swelled the ranks of women members of parliament in the new democratic government led by South Africa’s first African President Mr. Nelson Mandela. By 1999, the number of women MPs in South Africa’s parliament had become 169 strong or 42% and it was these women, including those now deceased, who were honoured by the Women’s Development Foundation in Johannesburg on 25th March. The event took place in the former Old Fort women’s prison and now Constitution Hill, the new home of South Africa’s Constitutional Court.

Movers and Shakers

Ms. Wendy Mayimele, the former Member of Parliament and one of the 169 honoraries, was amongst many other movers and shakers like the unbought and the unsold Ms. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, Hosi Philia Nwamitwa, Dr. Nkosazana Zuma, Ms. Lydia Makwena Ngwenya (mentored and inspired this writer during the struggle years) and many others. Ms. Mayimele pointed out it was Ms. Madikizela-Mandela who first proposed in Parliament to have Mr. Nelson Mandela as President. She also proposed August 9th as a South African Women’s Day. In this way, women MPs had a direct impact on the unfolding of the new political dispensation in South Africa. These indefatigable heroines received memorable awards and had their names unveiled in the memory wall constructed by the Women Development Foundation. The ceremony, dubbed A Celebration of Women in the First National Assembly, was a celebration of democracy between 1994 and 1999.

In 1994 there were 111 women comprising 28% of women MPs that put South Africa at eighth place in the world in terms of women’s parliamentary representation. That number rose to 42% by 1999 and today stands at 45% making South Africa number two in the African continent and number three on the planet in terms of women MPs. The number one position in the world and the African continent belongs to the African country of Rwanda. However, South Africa remains number on the continent in terms of the actual count of women MPs in parliament.

According to Ms. Mayimele, the women MPs faced a number of formidable challenges including having to give up a sacrosanct time with their families in order to bolster the fledgling democracy in helping to write the constitution which was adopted by the Constitutional Assembly on October 11, 1996 and ratified by the Constitutional Court on December 4th of the same year. President Mandela signed the new constitution into law on December 10 ushering the new constitutional era and thereby decommissioning the 1993 interim constitution. There has been a minimum of 16 amendments to the new constitution since it was adopted in 1996. The last amendment to the constitution was made in 2009.

Sacrifices Made

Speaking to Zulumathabo on the Internet blog, Ms. Wendy Mayimele spoke emotively of the many sacrifices and the lack of facilities for women in parliament because it was primarily an exclusively white male parliament. When women raised issues about aspects of parliament that were not woman friendly, they were forced to choose between being women or members of parliament. It cost some women MPs their families for choosing to serve the new South Africa. In fact one could say there was no choice because how does a mother choose between her children and serving her country? It looks like a choice but is it really a choice? The movie Sophie’s Choice comes to mind.

Dr. Thandi Ndlovu of Motheo Construction directed the WDF programme of honouring the women pioneers in parliament. The Chief Justice welcomed the audience including the women MPs, the diplomats from other countries, leaders of political parties, families of those who had passed away, women judges, civil society, young women invited to be here and the trustees of the WDF.

Dr. Brigalia Bam, a founding President of WDF, gave opening remarks in which she referred to the women pioneers of South African parliament as The Class of 1994 and her speech was dubbed Why The Class of 1994? Dr. Bam, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, expressed the sentiment of women taking charge of leadership. She told the captivated audience that she had threatened, together with other women, that women would form their own church if they were not ordained as priests.

A Sangoma medicine woman of Gauteng performed an African ceremony using impepho as an invocation of the sacred spirits prior to the commencement of the unveiling. This African ceremony seeks the prior permission of the ancestors before an important event is allowed to begin. The HE Thenjiwo Mtintso, HE Sheila Margaret Camerer and Ms. Suzanne Christina Vos gave their reflections on the main event while Ms. Lebo Mashile performed a poetry rendition. Chief Justice Ngcobo officiated at the unveiling ceremony along with Archbishop T. Makgoba and the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Ms. Lulama Mary-Theresa Xingwana.

Addressing the audience, Chief Justice Ngcobo spoke of “a class of 1994” as “distinguished women” thanking them for having accepted the invitation to be present at the unveiling of the Memorial of The Class of 1994. He commended WDF for organizing the event of “courageous women” who served with distinction with the support of families and friends and organizations that provided a support system and equipped the women with skills and research.

Justice Ngcobo referred to the site, which currently houses the Constitutional Court as a historic “site of injustice and deprivation” with heroines like Bertha Gxowa having been incarcerated in the Old Fort prison for women. He pointed out that the women MPs served the country with “dignified humility” in accordance with the decorum of the role they occupied.

Dr. Thandi Ndlovu thanked the honoraries for their graduation as a class of 1994. The company Motheo Construction built the wall of honour (with the help of Mr. Hobb) on which the names of 169 women pioneers were engraved. Awards were also given to the surviving families of the parliamentary stalwarts who had since passed on.

The women MPs faced some stiff challenges as they sought to transform an institution designed by and for men into a woman friendly institution. This was not easy because women had to initiate a lot institutional changes to retrofit the parliament to become user friendly for the women MPs. This meant adding women toilet facilities, child care facilities and other necessary facilities so that women MPs could function in an evironment that was conducive to the fulfillment of their mission-critical tasks.

Historical Insight of Women’s Struggle

Prior to 1994 women were also affected and divided by the racial policies, which existed for generations, as some White women didn’t see themselves as having a common cause with Black women. Even though the struggle for women’s suffrage had been going on in South Africa as far back as 1894, as attested by prominent feminist scholars like Sheila Mentjies in her scholarly paper The Women's Struggle For Equality During South Africa's Transition To Democracy, many White women subscribed to the sexist-racist adage “Die vrou wil nie saam met die kaffer stem nie” meaning a “White woman does not want to vote with a nigger woman”. However, the new women of 1994 broke past these racial barriers as attested by one woman Ms. Suzanne de Vos of IFP when she said women seated in parliament as patriots more than politicians to an extent that even party politics did not divide them.

This makes the experience of the women MPs the most powerful story of transformation. Even Dr. Bam expressed this sentiment when she said the story of South Africa had not been told as long the story of the women was not told.

The Names of the Heroines on the Memorial Wall

1. Abrahams Lizzie Adriana
2. Adams Feroza
3. Badenhorst Margaretha Johanna
4. Baloyi Sponono Francinah
5. Bam Nomancube Jillian
6. Benjamin Jean/Dr Swanson-Jacobus Jean
7. Bhengu Nozabelo Ruth
8. Biyela Nokwethemba Thelisile
9. Botha Ntombazana Gertrude Winifred
10. Botha Yolanda Rachel
11. Camerer Sheila Margaret
12. Chait Esme Joy
13. Chalmers Judy
14. Chohan-Khota Fatima Ismail
15. Coetzee-Kasper Mietha Patricia
16. Cupido Paulina Wilhelmina
17. De Lille Patricia
18. Didiza Angela Thokozile
19. Direko Winkie Isabela
20. Min Dlamini Bathabile Olive
21. Dlulane Beauty Nomvuso
22. Fazzie Ethesian
23. Ferguson Jennifer
24. Fester Gertrude Magdalene Nethania
25. Fraser-Moleketi Geraldine Joslyn
26. Gamdana Thembeka
27. Gandhi Ela
28. Gasa Xolile Faith
29. Gcina Cikizwa Ivy
30. Ginwala Frene Noshir
31. Govender Devagie
32. Govender Pregaluxmi
33. Gxowa Bertha Nonkumbi
34. Hajaig Fatima
35. Hangana Nomatyala Elizabeth
36. Hani Limpho
37. Hlangwana Nomvula Lillian
38. Hogan Barbara Anne
39. Jacobus Loretta
40. Jana Devikarani Priscilla
41. Kemp Alida Elizabeth Louisa
42. Kgoali Joyce Lesawana
43. Kgositsile Mbete Baleka
44. Khobe Olive Ntombikayise
45. Khuncu Nancy
46. Dr King Tersia Johanna
47. Kondlo Ncumisa
48. Deputy Min Kota Zoliswa Albertina
49. Kuzwayo Nnoseng Ellen Kate
50. Lamani Nocwaka Emmcie
51. Langa-Capa Rosemary Zoleka Nokuzola
52. Lausberg Cheryll Ellen/Gillwald Cheryll Ellen
53. Losabe Lorraine Keamogecoe
54. Love Janet Yetta
55. Lubidla Evelyn Nompumelelo
56. Mabandla Brigitte Sylvia
57. Min Mabudafhasi Thizwilondi Rejoice
58. Mabude Ntomile
59. Mabuza Lindiwe
60. Mabuza Manana Catherine
61. Madikizela-Mandela Nomzamo Winnie
62. Madubula Nonyaniso Trusma
63. Madumise Meisie Maureen
64. Mahlalela Cengi Christine
65. Mahlangu Lindiwe Gwendoline
66. Mahlangu Qedani Dorothy
67. Mahomed Farida
68. Maine Sophia Makatse/Morule-Maine Sophia Makatse
69. Majola-Pikoli Nozuko Temperance
70. Malan Theunetta Johanna
71. Malepane Busisiwe
72. Maloney Lorna
73. Maphisa-Nqakula Nosiviwe Noluthando
74. Marcus Gill
75. Mars Inka
76. Marshoff Frances Beatrice
77. Mashamba Happy Joice
78. Masuku-Ntuli Lindiwe Faith
79. Matsepe - Cassaburi Ivy Florence
80. Maunye Maggie Margaret
81. Mayimele Hlamalani Wendy
82. Mbatha Mary Smangele
83. Dr Mbulawa-Hans Bulelwa Gilberta
84. Mbuyazi Lindiwe Rosebud
85. Mdutyana Sylvia Nomaza Noluthando
86. Mfono Nosisa Babalwa
87. Mkhwanazi-Modise Thandi Ruth
88. Mlambo-Ngcuka Phumzile Gloria
89. Mnandi Pamela Nana
90. Mohale Maite Emily/ Nkoane-Mashabane Maite Emily
91. Mokgalong Moshito Rosina Victoria/Mashigo Moshito Rosina Victoria
92. Molebatsi Maapi Angelina
93. Molewa Bomo Edna Edith
94. Mompati Ruth Segomotsi
95. Morulane (Masango) Eneria Nana/Masango Eneria Nana
96. Mothoagae Percylia Kereng
97. Mthembi-Nkondo Sankie Dolly
98. Mtintso Thenjiwe Ethel
99. Mtsweni Nomsa Sanny-Florah
100. Mutsila Irene
101. Myakayaka-Manzini Yvette Lillian
102. Ncube Bernard
103. Ndzanga Rita Alita
104. Nel Bernine Fredrika
105. Ngubane Harriet
106. Ngwane Lindiwe Benedicta/Hendriks Lindiwe Benedicta
107. Ngwenya Makwena Lydia
108. Njobe Makhosazana Abigail Alicia
109. Nkuna Constance
110. Nqodi Sally Belvia
111. Nqwemesha Kuku Winnie
112. Ntlabati Senorita Nombulelo
113. Ntuli Bongi Maria
114. Nyembe Nomzantsi Dorothy
115. Nzimande Buyisiwe Maureen
116. Olckers Martha Elizabeth
117. Min Olifant Mildred Nelisiwe
118. Min Pandor Naledi Grace Mandisa
119. Min Peters Elizabeth Dipuo
120. Phakathi Nomasonto Emmah
121. Phantsi Nosakhele Elizabeth
122. Rabinowitz Ruth
123. Ramakaba-Lesiea Mandu Mildred
124. Ramotsamai Cecilia Mampe Papadi
125. Rantho Mamodupi Maria
126. Ranuga-Maphazi Nondumiso
127. Ratsoma, Maggie
128. Reubenheimer Veronica Marlene
129. Routledge-Madlala Nozizwe Charlotte
130. Schreiner Jennifer Ann
131. Seaton Sybil Anne
132. Sekgobela Priscilla Sindisiwe
133. Seperepere Mittah Selekanya
134. Shabangu Susan
135. Shandu Eileen Eidana Nkosi
136. Shilubana Tinyiko Phillia
137. Shope Gertrude Ntiti
138. Shope Ntombi Regan
139. Sigcau Alice Nothembisa
140. Sigcau Stella Margaret Nomzamo
141. Singh Lalita
142. Sisulu Nontsikelelo Albertina
143. Min Sisulu-Guma Lindiwe Nonceba
144. Smuts Mudene
145. Snyders Frances Elizabeth
146. Sonjica Buyelwa Patience
147. Sosibo Jabu Elsie
148. Tambo Adelaide Frances
149. Thabethe Elizabeth
150. Themba Priscilla Malesane
151. Thompson Barbara
152. Tshabalala-Msimang Edmie Mantombazana
153. Tsheole Ntshadi Martha
154. Tshivhase Tovhowani Josephine
155. Turok Mary Elizabeth
156. Twala Ntombikayise Margaret
157. Tyobeka-Lieta Vuyiswa Margaret
158. Van der Merwe Annette Margrietta
159. Van der Merwe Susan Comber
160. Van Wyk Anna
161. Versfeld Antoinette Maria
162. Verwoerd Melanie
163. Vilakazi Jeanette Ntombizodwa
164. Viljoen Valerie
165. Vos Suzanne Christina
166. Min Xingwana Lulama Mary-Theresa
167. Zerwick Frieda
168. Min Zuma Dlamini Nkosazana Clarice

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to Ms. Wendy Mayimele for speaking to Zulumathabo on the Internet about the WDF event and also for providing the photos posted in this article. Thank you to Mr. Nhlanhla Mthethwa for assisting with the list of the honoraries.