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Home , Bantu Holomisa, Barbara Hogan, Derek Hanekom, Derek Keys, Dullah Omar, Kader Asmal

198 Broad way * New York, N.Y. 10038 * (212) 962-1210 Tilden J. LeMelle, Chairman Jennifer Davis, Executive Director F

June 1, 1994 To: Women's Network From: Rachael Kagan, Women's Project Coordinator Re: Women Elected to South African Government

At long last I am deliQhted to be able to report to you on the achievements of South Africa's women in the April election. By now I'm sure everyone has heard of the ANC victory and Nelson Mandela's inauguration as the first democratically elected President of South Africa. It is cause for great joy and celebration throughout the world. Indeed, this stage of the struggle has been won. The newly elected Government of National Unity is charged with the dual task of overseeing the transition from apartheid to a non-racial South Africa and writing the new Constitution. But the question: what about the women? has not really been addressed amidst all the news of these historic elections. This mailing provides some initial answers. Enclosed is an article from the South African newspaper, The Sunday Times which announces that after the election, South Africa jumped from 141st place on the list of countries with women in Parliament, to seventh! In fact, South Africa's new government is more representative of women than the U.S. Congress. 106 out of 400 Constituent (National) Assembly members are women. Also included is a partial list of the ANC women now serving -- many of these names will be familiar. It is thrilling that South African women's efforts have won them this victory. Of course, many battles in the fight for true women's equality lie ahead. Another enclosed article addresses some of the early strategies among women MPs to ensure their presence in Parliament means women's lives at the grassroots improve. The Women's Charter, completed just before the election, will soon be examined by the Constituent Assembly as it sits to write the new constitution. Much of the success of the Charter will depend on the ability of women MPs to form a caucus in support of the rights outlined therein, and also on women outside government pressuring their elected officials. This will be an initial concrete test of women's collective political muscle. It is encouraging that Frene Ginwala is now the first woman Speaker of the House. Ginwala, convener of the Women's National Coalition, which coordinated the Women's Charter Campaign, and senior member of the ANC leadership, is a tireless fighter for women's rights and will certainly play a leadership role in the effort to see the Charter adopted into the new constitution. WOMEN ELECTED TO SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT Elections 26-29 April 1994 chose parties on both national and regional ballots to form the new government. Information below reflects gains of women in the election. Also provided is the full membership of the new South African Cabinet. Party affiliations are in parenthesis. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Total number of seats: 400 Total number of women: 106 Percentaae of National Vote & Seat Allocations by Party: African National Congress: 62.65% / 252 seats / 84 women National Party: 20.39% / 82 seats / 10 women Inkatha Freedom Party: 10.54% / 43 seats / 10 women Freedom Front: 2.17% / 9 seats / no women Democratic Party: 1.73% / 7 seats / 1 woman Pan Africanist Congress: 1.25% / 5 seats / 1 woman African Christian Democratic Party: .45% / 2 seats / no women OFFICIALS

President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (ANC) Deputy President Thabo Mbeki (ANC) Deputy President F.W. De Klerk (NP) Speaker of the Parliament Frene Ginwala (ANC)* Deputy-Speaker of Parl. Bhadrakumar Ghalloo Ranchod (NP) CABINET MINISTERS Justice Dullah Omar (ANC) Defence Joe Modise (ANC) Safety & Security Sydney Mufamadi (ANC) Education Sibusiso Bengu (ANC) Trade, Industry & Tourism Trevor Manuel (ANC) Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo (ANC) Labor Tito Mboweni (ANC) Posts, Telecommunications & Broadcasting Pallo Jordan (ANC) Health Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (ANC)* Transport Mac Maharaj (ANC) Provincial Affairs & Constitutional Development Roelf Meyer (NP) Land Affairs Derek Hanekom (ANC) Public Enterprises Stella Sigcau (ANC)* Public Service & Admin. Zola Skweyiya (ANC) Housing Joe Slovo (ANC) Public Works Jeff Radebe (ANC) Correctional Services Sipho Mzimela (IFP) Finance Derek Keys (NP) Agriculture Kraai van Niekerk (NP) Sport & Recreation Steve Tshwete (ANC) Home Affairs Mangosuthu G. Buthelezi (IFP) Water Affairs & Forestry Kader Asmal (ANC) Environment Affairs Dawie de Villiers (NP) Mineral & Energy Affairs Pik Botha (NP) Welfare & Population Dvp Abe Williams (NP) Arts, Culture, Science & Technology Ben Ngubani (IFP) Minister Without Portfolio Jay Naidoo (ANC) Total Number of Cabinet Members: 30 *Women in Cabinet : 2 Number from African National Congress (ANC): 20 Number from National Party (NP): 7 Number from Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP): 3

DEPUTY CABINET MINISTERS

Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad (ANC) Provincial Affairs Valli Moosa (ANC) Justice Chris Fismer (NP) Home Affairs Penuell Maduna (ANC) Arts, Culture, Science & Technology Winnie Mandela (ANC)* Finance Alec Erwin (ANC) Welfare Sankie Nkondo (ANC)* Environment Affairs Bantu Holomisa (ANC) Land Affairs Tobie Meyer (NP) Education Renier Schoeman (NP) Safety & Security Joe Matthews (IFP) Agriculture Thoko Msane (ANC)* *women

SOME WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY National Representatives of the ANC

Albertina Sisulu Barbara Hogan Gertrude Shope Nozizwe Madlala Stella Sigcau Dorothy Nyembe Winnie Mandela Melanie Verwoerd Thenjiwe Mthintso Sankie Nkondo Baleka Kgositsile Pregs Govender Ruth Mompati Lydia Kompe Mavivi Manzini Ivy Gcina Gill Marcus Ela Gandhi Thandi Modise Joyce Mashamba Nkosazana Zuma Phumzile Ngcuka Nosiviwe Maphisa Ellen Khuzwayo Frene Ginwala Zou Kota Geraldine Fraser Lindiwe Sisulu Jenny Schreiner Feroza Adam Bridgette Mabandla Lindiwe Mabuza Sister Bernard Ncube Dipou Peters Adelaide Tambo Ntombi Shope Thoko Msane Jennifer Ferguson Bongi Njobe P.T. Shilubane Girlie Pikoli Makhosazana Njobe

Compiled by Rachael Kagan, Women's Project Coordinator, The Africa Fund New York, NY USA/ (212) 962-1210 / 1 June 1994 Article on Women Elected to New Parliament from South Africa's Sunday Times, 29 May 1994. by Janet Wilhelm and Diana Streak

From being one of the world's most sexist governments our new Parliament with its 106 strong contingent of women, has emerged as one of the world's most progressive. South Africa has moved from 141st place on the list of countries with women in Parliament, to seventh. This leap underlies the commitment by President Nelson Mandela to a non-sexist South Africa. He has repeatedly made it clear that he considers discrimination against women as abhorrent as racism. In September 1993 the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the world organization of parliaments based in Geneva, polled 171 countries. SA was among the 30 countries whose representation was less than three percent -- a slot it shared with countries like Belize, Morocco, Lebanon, Turkey and Yemen. SA is now among the top 10. Top of the list is the Seychelles, which has almost attained equality with women making up 45.8 percent of its parliamentarians. The other countries in the top 10 are: Finland (39 percent), Norway (35.8 percent), Sweden (33.5 percent), Denmark (33 percent), the Netherlands (29.3 percent), Iceland (23.2 percent), Cuba (22.8 percent) Austria (21.3 percent) and China (21 percent). With a jump from 2.7 percent to 26.5 percent, South African women are now better represented that their British and American counterparts. The new profile of the South African Parliament is symbolized by the appointment of Frene Ginwala as Speaker of the House. Yet, despite these gains, the top echelons of our new government remain bastions of male power. In the 30-member cabinet only two ministerial positions are held by women -- Health Minister (Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma) and Public Enterprise Minister (Stella Sigcau). Three women hold deputy minister posts: Winnie Mandela (Arts, Culture, Science and Technology), Thoko Msane (Agriculture) and Sankie Nkondo (Welfare and Population Development). All nine of the provincial premiers are men. Although women are well represented in the provincial parliaments, they are remarkably absent from the regional executive committees. Of the 90 senators, only 16 are women. But even though women have been left out of the upper structures, they are determined that their presence in Parliament will have an impact. Only the Freedom Front (nine seats) and the African Christian Democratic Party (two seats) lack women MPs. The DP has one (out of seven seats), Dene Smuts, and the PAC also has one (out of five seats), Patricia de Lille. The 10 female IFP MPs (out of a party total of 43 seats) have already formed a parliamentary women's caucus. The 10 NP women MPs (out of a party total of 82 seats) were meeting this week to decide on strategy. A day after the opening of Parliament ANC women MPs were already tackling the content of President Mandela's speech and discussing strategy on women's issues, including the possible establishment of a Ministry of Children. Phumzile Ngcuka, spokesman for the ANC's 84-strong women's caucus (out of a party total of 252 seats), said the priority would be to integrate women's issues in the affairs of state and to "make sure women's issues maintain visibility." The ANC women said they were unhappy with the number of women in the cabinet and would lobby to change this. Another priority would be to tackle the civil service, which had been dominated by "white males". Nomatyala Hangana said the caucus would collect CVs and draw up a data base of women so that they could start identifying women who could be directors-general and commissioners.

Article reprinted by Rachael Kagan, Women's Project Coordinator, The Africa Fund, 198 Broadway, NY, NY 10038. *** 28-May-94 ***

Title: SOUTH AFRICA-WOMEN: GOVERNMENT URGED TO ADDRESS GENDER ISSUES

BY PAUL STOBER

JOHANNESBURG, MAY 28 (IPS) - SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN HAVE A STRONG GRIP ON THE REIGNS OF POWER IN THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) AND ARE SET TO ENSURE THE NEW GOVERNMENT TACKLES THEIR NEEDS.

SINCE THEY WON A BATTLE LATE LAST YEAR TO HAVE A THIRD OF THE ANC'S SEATS IN PARLIAMENT RESERVED FOR THEM, WOMEN IN THE ORGANISATION HAVE RAPIDLY MUSTERED THE ART OF DEALING IN REAL POLITICS.

THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE ANC THAT FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (RDP) TO SUCCEED, THE GOVERNMENT MUST INVOLVE WOMEN IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ENSURE THEY BECOME FULL AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITIES TARGETTED FOR UPLIFTMENT.

BY TAPPING INTO ORGANISATIONS RESEARCHING WOMEN'S ISSUES, LIKE THE CENTRE FOR APPLIED LEGAL STUDIES GENDER PROJECT, ACTIVISTS MANAGED TO PRESENT CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF WHY THEIR EMANCIPATION IS NECESSARY FOR THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF SOUTH AFRICA.

THE CENTRE LOOKS AT THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEGISLATION ON THE LIVES OF WOMEN, WHO CONSTITUTE 51 PERCENT OF SOUTH AFRICA'S 42 MILLION PEOPLE.

IN JANUARY, THE ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE RELEASED A DETAILED DOCUMENT LOOKING AT HOW THE RDP COULD BE TARGETTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WOMEN IN 15 KEY AREAS.

''THE LEAGUE MAY NOT HAVE STRUCTURES ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT BY LINKING ACADEMIC RESEARCH TO A MASS ORGANISATION OF BLACK WORKING CLASS WOMEN, IT GIVES THE RESEARCH LEGITIMACY,'' SAID AN ANALYST CLOSE TO THE MOVEMENT.

''THAT IS PART OF WHAT HAPPENED AND MADE A GREAT IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE ANC ON WOMEN'S EMANCIPATION,'' NOTED BALEKA KGOSITSILE, A FORMER ANC WOMEN'S LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL AND NOW A PARLIAMENTARIAN.

''BUT IT WAS THE STRUGGLE WOMEN HAVE WAGED IN THE ORGANISATION ITSELF WHICH IS IMPORTANT.''

NOW THE ANC IS THE DOMINANT PARTNER IN THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, IT IS SET TO ENSURE WOMEN ARE REPRESENTED IN ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND THAT THE NEEDS OF SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN ARE ADDRESSED. AT THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT TUESDAY, STATE PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA ASSURED WOMEN HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD TACKLE THEIR NEEDS.

''THE OBJECTIVES OF THE RDP WILL NOT HAVE BEEN REALISED UNLESS WE SEE IN PRACTICAL TERMS THE CONDITION OF THE WOMEN OF OUR COUNTRY HAS RADICALLY CHANGED FOR THE BETTER AND THEY HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED TO INTERVENE ON ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE AS EQUALS,'' HE SAID.

MANDELA CONFIRMED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENDER COMMISSION PROVIDED FOR IN THE INTERIM CONSTITUTION AND ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MAKE SURE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS PUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN IN PLACE AND HELP PROMOTE THEM GENERALLY.

THE ANC WOMEN'S EMANCIPATION COMMISSION, WHICH BECAME VERY INFLUENTIAL IN THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORGANISATION'S SOCIAL POLICIES, IS PUSHING FOR A CABINET COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT PLANS TO PROMOTE WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT.

THE COMMITTEE WILL NOT NECESSARILY CONSIST OF THE TWO WOMEN IN THE CABINET, AS THE MAIN CRITERIA WILL BE POLITICAL CLOUT AND A COMMITMENT TO WOMEN'S RIGHTS, RATHER THAN SEX.

WHILE THE CABINET COMMITTEE WILL DEAL WITH POLICY, THE GENDER COMMISSION WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE NUMBER AND POSITION OF WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT AND ENSURE THAT POLICY BECOMES REALITY.

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SEEN NOT TO BE TAKING WOMEN INTO ACCOUNT WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY TO THE COMMISSION.

''ANC WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT HAVE FORMED A CAUCUS TO PRESS GENDER CONCERNS,'' SAYS KGOSITSILE, ''AND THERE ARE PLANS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO MAKE THEM LOUD AND EFFECTIVE VOICES IN THE ASSEMBLY.''

ON WEDNESDAY, THE WOMAN'S CAUCUS CALLED FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF WOMEN TO SOUTH AFRICA'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND FISCAL COMMISSION.

THEY INDICATED THEY WILL PUSH FOR MORE WOMEN TO BE PLACED IN THE CABINET. AT THE MOMENT THERE ARE ONLY TWO FULL WOMEN MINISTERS IN THE 30-MEMBER CABINET.

BUT, EVEN THOUGH WOMEN ARE PERHAPS MORE INFLUENTIAL IN THE ANC AND GOVERNMENT THAN EVER BEFORE, KGOSITSILE PREPARING FOR MANY MORE BATTLES.

''WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS, BUT WE CANNOT SAY THE STRUGGLE IS NOW OVER. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE IN THE NEGOTIATING FORUM, IT COULD HAVE AMOUNTED TO TOKENISM, SO WE REALLY HAD TO WORK HARD,'' SHE SAID.