A war of words has erupted between ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini and the league’s former president Angie Motshekga yesterday.
The ANC National Working Committee meeting descended into a battle with serious allegations levelled against Motshekga.
An angry Dlamini accused the minister of Basic Education of “meddling in the Women’s League and using foul tactics” to get Dlamini removed as president of the league.
Dlamini accused Motshekga of “plotting with some in the women’s league to remove her and working to have the women’s league disbanded in order to suit her faction”.
Motshekga, however, did not take it lying down and interrupted Dlamini saying “she wasn’t going to allow her name to be misused”.
The meeting was rescued by the ANC’s chairperson Gwede Mantashe, who asked Dlamini to put her concerns in writing.
“Some are trying to destroy the women’s league. Comrade Angie is co-ordinating secret meetings to disrupt the women’s league. We all know what she is doing,” Dlamini said in the meeting.
Last week, the Daily News reported that a high-ranking ANC official told The Star’s sister paper the National Working Committee was considering disbanding the Women’s League because it was seen to be rebelling against President Cyril Ramaphosa and his faction within the league.
The leadership of the ANC Women's League has received reports alleging that Motshekga was organising various events around the country under the banner of the ANCWL, the league said.
“In order to maintain unity within the organisation, the democratically elected leadership of the ANCWL under President Cde Bathabile Dlamini will nip in the bud any signs of ill-discipline rearing its ugly head in the organisation.
“Cde Angie must accept that a duly constituted conference of the ANCWL did not vote for her to continue in the leadership helm of the organisation,” the league said.
“She must allow herself to be led and desist from trying to rule the ANCWL from the grave.
“She is given space to lead Ministry of Education, the ANCWL calls Cde Angie to give space to the current ANCWL leadership to lead the organisation,” the league said.
Dlamini is expected to draft a formal complaint about Motshekga to the NWC.
This is not the first time Motshekga has been has been accused of sowing seeds of division. In 2017 ahead of the party’s 54th National Conference, the league accused Motshekga of trying to rule from the grave.
The league accused Motshekga of campaigning for her preferred presidential candidate (Ramaphosa)under its banner without permission.
Speaking to The Star yesterday Motshekga said: “None of the allegations are true and I don’t wish to engage further on this matter. Please note that respectfully, I will not answer your questions again.”
Dlamini had not responded to The Star’s questions at the time of going to print last night.