Mbokodo has spoken
In a statement issued by its Secretary General, the ANC Women’s League has been scathing in its response to the utterances attributed to Rev Vukile Mehana, viewed by many as an affront to all the efforts of the governing party to foster gender parity amongst its ranks.
Rev Mehana has already issued a “heartfelt apology” for the harm caused by his words.
ANCWL STATEMENT ON THE PATRIARCHAL AND OBNOXIOUS MALE CHAUVISTIC UTTERANCES ATTRIBUTED TO REVEREND DR VUKILE MEHANA
2nd January 2019
The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) has noted with dismay, the patriarchal, obnoxious male chauvinistic and the blatant disrespect of women clergies attributed to Rev. Dr Vukile Mehana.
Building a gender oppression free society is an apex priority of the African National Congress (ANC) government and the likes of Rev Dr Mehana who are in various positions of influence are expected to be exemplary in the drive to create a gender equal society. In a recording doing rounds in social media platforms, humiliating and degrading comments are uttered about women clergies and those comments are attributed to Rev Dr Mehana. The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley defeated patriarchy by granting Sarah Crosby a license to preach in 1761, therefore it will be unfortunate for any leader of the Methodist movement to harbour patriarchal and male chauvinistic behaviours.
Whilst the ANCWL respects the call by the Methodist Church to be given space to deal with the matter using their internal processes, the ANCWL urges all members of the Methodist church and other denominations to demand that Rev Dr Mehana be stripped off his responsibilities within the Methodist church pending the outcomes of the internal processes.
The ANCWL whose objective amongst others is to campaign for a culture and recognition of women’s rights as human rights, also calls on the ANC and its led government to bar with immediate effect, Rev Dr Mehana from officiating any ANC or government events pending the outcome of the investigation by the Methodist church. The ANCWL also makes a clarion call to all the companies were Rev Dr Mehana holds positions of influence, to consider the reputational risk brought to those companies by the appalling remarks attributed to him in relations to women clergies.
The gender stereotypes do not have place in South Africa under the ANC government. As the integral part of the ANC, the ANCWL will continue to fight for the rights of women and vulnerable groups. The ANCWL will unapologetically confront social ills like patriarchy, male chauvinism, homophobia and paedophilia without fear nor favour. No pulpit or clergy collar will grant any patriarchist, male chauvinist, homophobic or paedophile an immunity.
At all times the ANCWL under its President Bathabile Dlamini will stand with the victims of gender based violence.
Issued by the ANCWL
Meokgo Matuba
Secretary General
062 663 7100
