Historically, the ANC Women's League has fought against discrimination and the abuse of women, and also championed the rights of the girl child in South Africa.

Historically, the ANC Women's League has fought against discrimination and the abuse of women, and also championed the rights of the girl child in South Africa.

That is why our organisation finds it extremely disappointing and worrying that the league chose Jacob Zuma as their presidential candidate. This decision goes against their own resolution that was taken at their general council earlier this year, that a woman should be elected president of the ANC.

If gender is not one of the prime concerns of the ANC Women's League then what is the purpose of its existence at all?

It has been quite some time that we haven't seen the league out in full force against issues such as violence and rape against women. And what about the future of the rights of the girl child in South Africa? It is very surprising that with so many women candidates in parliament, not one was chosen by the league for presidential nomination.

Has the once proud and staunch women's league become a victim of lip service and spin doctoring? Are the women of the ANC now satisfied to accept the leadership of a man whose sexual habits are clearly predatory?

Miranda Friedmann, director: Women and Men Against Child Abuse, Johannesburg