The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has called for his parties women’s league to defend each other when they face challenges.He said this when addressing them during conference at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg yesterday.

The ANC Women’s League was established to defend the rights and dignity for women but over the years the party looked away when it needed to defend the needy, notably during Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, who she became popular as Khwezi.

In 2005, she accused then President Jacob Zuma of rape but then the Women’s League instead attacked her.

Over the years the party was criticised for failing to address the rights of women even against misogynistic comments from other ANC leaders.

It then lost influence before it was disbanded.

But Mbalula said the women’s league must take its rightful place and lead the masses.

"We want to see women in the streets protesting against gender based violence.When a woman in Unisa is appointed a Vice Chancellor, the Women’s League must be the first to stand up and defend her. Why are you sitting and do nothing when women are being harassed?" he asked.

He also gave an example of former University Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, who had a long battle with university, which led to her exiting the top institution in April.

"When a woman in UCT Mamokgethi is attacked by racists, African women where are you? You shouldn’t become popular for internal fights of the ANC, become popular with fights for the right of women," he lashed out.

He also turned his focus on Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan saying he should act on fixing underperforming State Owned Enterprises (SOE) and end load shedding.

"Pravin, move faster on Transnet or otherwise we will remove you. Trucks must get off the road and use the rail," ironically Mbalula was the Minister of transport when railway collapsed in 2020.