Former African Union Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has a critical year ahead as the ANC prepares to elect a new candidate to lead what promises to be a stormy election. Will the scales tip in her favor?
On Friday January 27, her 68th birthday, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ended her four-and-a-half year tenure as the first woman chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission. She didn’t seek a second term, many assume, so she could devote energy to her bid to become South Africa’s first woman state president.
With incumbent President Jacob Zuma, her ex-husband, serving his final term, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) must elect a new candidate to lead it into the teeth of what is likely to be a stormy election in 2019. That person will be named at the party’s 54th national elective conference in December.
Dlamini-Zuma’s campaign got a shot in the arm a day before the party’s 105th birthday, on January 7, when she was the first candidate to be endorsed by a party structure.
“Her capacity, experience and credentials are second to none,” says the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) executive. This was bold talk, in a party that doesn’t like to talk about succession (at least until the leadership says it’s ok).
That Dlamini-Zuma’s backers endorsed her with alacrity is telling. With ANC women, youth and veterans’ leagues renowned for punting candidates they know will find favor with the prevailing faction, it can be assumed that the former AU Commission chair has the tacit support of both President Zuma and the powerful so-called ‘Premier League’, a coterie of ANC provincial chairpersons who are also Premiers of the three provinces of the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga.
This story is from the February-March 2017 edition of Forbes Woman Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February-March 2017 edition of Forbes Woman Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Well-Grounded
Coco Cachalia, whose mother Amina was among the 20,000 in the Women’s March of August 1956, made a decision to stay away from politics – and succeed in business instead.
Art Becomes Her
A celebrated international fine artist, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi overcame the struggles of apartheid, and her work is grounded in her past.
'Not Just Pro-Women But Pro-Progress'
South Africa’s Minister of Women Susan Shabangu on the significance of the 61st anniversary of Women’s Day, and the role men can play in ending gender violence in South Africa and creating an equal society.
Diversity And Inclusion Are Part Of Baker Mckenzie's DNA
According to Law360’s 2017 Glass Ceiling Report, women make up around one-third of the attorneys in private legal practice. Among the law firms surveyed, just below 23% of partners are female.
We, Men For Women
South Africa still has a long way to go for gender justice in business and in life, but with more men openly stepping forward to be a part of the discourse, FORBES WOMAN AFRICA speaks to two male entrepreneurs, a CEO and a social activist. They acknowledge diversity makes smart social and economic sense that will benefit all.
What, After All, Does Feminism Have To Do With Men?
According to the seminal African-American writer bell hooks (her name is not capitalized), feminism is for everybody.
Blood, Setbacks And Tears
Two sisters with common failures and a dream to eventually succeed.
Fighting To The End
In May, 82 more Chibok girls were released in exchange for Boko Haram prisoners. Oby Ezekwesili, a strong advocate in the campaign to bring them back, has vowed to never stop fighting.
Not Just Hard Work, But Heart Work
As incidents of gender-based violence increase in Africa, those like Nigeria’s Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, are trying to bring relief to stigmatized victims.
Going Down The Spice Route
Essie Bartels worked several odd jobs she hated before opening a company selling mouth-watering spices and sentiments to the world.
