Crime, poverty top ANCWL lekgotla's agenda

from The Independent On Line

Poverty and crime were key issues the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) dealt with at its annual lekgotla in February, it said on Wednesday.

The ANCWL national executive committee held its annual lekgotla from February 4-6 in Benoni, Johannesburg.

Spokesperson Charlotte Lobe said the league draw up a 2007 plan of action "aimed at intensifying the struggle against poverty."

ANCWL branches would monitor poverty alleviation programmes at ward level and would forge partnerships with other women's and community-based organisations to assist.

"This strategy must continue to target the poorest of the poor, especially the vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and the physically challenged, thereby building social cohesion, strengthening families and building human capital."

Lobe said the ANCWL also addressed the problem of crime and decided it was "critical" to develop partnerships to combat the problem.

"The ANCWL will continue with its mass campaign to mobilise women to be at the forefront of the struggle against women and children abuse, human trafficking, and the struggle for peace,
stability and safer neighbourhoods."

The ANCWL would convene its national general council (NGC) in March. There, it would asses progress made in implementing decisions of the last national conference, held in 2003.

It would also prepare the ANCWL ahead of the ANC's national policy conference and the party's 52nd national conference, at which a new party president will be elected.

Lobe said the ANCWL would launch NGC papers for discussions.

"Let us deepen the debates ahead of the ANCWL NGC, the ANC policy conference and 52nd national conference," she said.

The NGC papers - available on the ANCWL website within two weeks - were on economic transformation and international relations.

In addition, there would also be a discussion paper focusing on the war against poverty for discussions at the NGC.

The ANCWL offered their condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Adelaide Tambo, who died last week.

"The passing on of Mama Adelaide Tambo, must unleash new impetus in the women of our country to attend to the unfinished and yet complex struggle of the total emancipation of women," said Lobe.