As South Africans come to terms with the death of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, we look at female leaders who are a force to be reckoned with.
By Ayanda Sitole
1. Hlengiwe Octavia Mkhaliphi (EFF)
Image: EFF website
She is much like the party she represents – vibrant, outspoken and quick to hold poli-ticians to account. Politically active since the age of 14, Hlengiwe has been a member of parliament (MP) in the EFF since 2014. She challenged former home affairs minis-ter Hlengiwe Mkhize about the circumstances under which the Gupta family received citi-zenship in South Africa, and whether they renounced their Indian citizenship as it is against the country’s laws to have dual citizenship.
2. Hlomela Bucwa (DA)
Image: Twitter
Hlomela made her mark as the youngest MP in South Africa at the age of 24. South Africans began to take notice of her when she delivered her first speech in Parliament in 2017, challenging the government to urgently address issues of youth unemployment and funding for tertiary education. She sits on the portfolio committee on Higher Educa-tion and Training.
3. Tasneem Motara (ANC)
Image: Twitter
Growing up in Benoni in a family that is active in politics, 34-year-old Tasneem Motara rose up the political ranks having started as a student activist at SASCO. She then joined the ANCYL. She now works as provincial Chief Whip and serves in the National Council of Provinces. As an MP, she is passionate about economic development and setting a better future for young South Africans to be active participants in the local and global economy.
