May the ghost of Charlotte Maxeke haunt Vavi, the ANC & others

The more than 20 000 brave women marched to the Union Buildings on this day in 1956. They chanted; "Wa thint'abafazi, Wa thint'imbokodo. Women from all walks of life defied the apartheid laws and united in their demands for a free country. Black, White, Coloured and Indian women told Prime Minister Strjdom that he will die if he messed with their freedom. Did these women give birth to a generation of cowards? Are we insulting the efforts these women by turning a blind eye to the injustices that continue even after the end of apartheid? 

The ANC Women's League of Angie Motshekga supported a man accused of rape. A man who admitted to having sex with an HIV positive woman without protection. I don't think this is the league that Charlotte Maxeke hoped for. You are likely to mistake township cemeteries for the FNB Stadium on weekends. Youngsters in coffins, straight to the grave. Aids still claim their lives. This is the reality of our times. But mothers, women leaders cannot wash their hands off a man who cannot be a role model to their already disempowered children. This is a different breed of leadership. Helen Suzman devoted her life to ending the plight of black women. Today's women leaders will sell their souls and conscience to partriarcy. They are submissive to the demons of this so-called democracy. 

Today should have been the day when we all marched to the Union Buildings to tell this ANC government that it too will die like the government of J.G Strjdom. We should have marched to Cosatu House and spit on their face for protecting Zwelinzima Vavi who abused his power to dominate a young, cash-strapped, female employee. He too did not use a condom. Our people are betrayed everyday. The legacy of Helen Suzman, Charlotte Maxeke, Ruth First and many heroines is drowning in the sea of corruption, misogyny and partriarchy. 

Our only hope was the media. Exposing the rot in the midst our leadership. But it is so difficult because newsrooms are filled with black people who are either aligned to government or those who are still disempowered because of our history. You also get whites who still have apartheid guilt and often let things slide. And then you get empowered whites who will tell it like it is. Only to be told they are racist. The issues of human rights disappear because of our politics. Journalists are supposed to be humanitarians that inject conscience and morals into the custodians of our Constitution. But we are tainted by our politics. No patriotism. We are trying to be politically correct. Women suffer,children are denied quality education and our gramdmothers die without dignity because of the health system we inheritted. 

Yesterday Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said she came to the conclusion that she was naive to think that the liberation struggle would free our people. That is an indictment on her ANC.

 The rich are behind their high walls and electric gates. The middle class have the baggage paying tax so the millions of the poor can get their social grants. Black men remain emasculated because they can't provide for their families. They take it out on their women. Children witness all this. And that's why we have a generational crisis. 

In the words of Prof. Pierre De Vos, National Women's Day is just another day for men to call the shots!