WOMEN’S MONTH27 August 2010 Page 5

Councillor ConstantinaTsepouras: I want women tobe positive and strong.

My political model isMargaret Thatcher.

The President’s message on50-50 gender equity iswonderful.

I would never change career.I would like to remain aCouncillor because I likemotivating people.

Councillor SenprabhaStefanidis: Women are leadersfrom birth and people shouldrespect that. In fact we shouldtreat every month as women’smonth.

Margaret Thatcher is myhero.

There is nothing that womencannot do, so I support 50/50gender representation.

If I wasn’t in politics I wouldbe a community worker orwork with non-governmentalorganisations.

Councillor Phillida Ellis: Beproud that you are a woman.Be proud of your contributionin whatever sphere you make.No contribution is too small orunworthy. Command respect,you’ve earned it. But most ofall be a friend to other women.

All women have somethingto offer as a role model.Learn a little from everyoneyou meet.

The 50/50 gender target isvery good, but perhaps if itwas based on merit therewould be far more women.

The government needs toshow women more respect.

I would have been a lawyer ifI was not in politics.

Councillor BridgetNtshangase: My message towomen is that they muststand up for themselves. Fightfor your rights and do not giveup until you are heard.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela ismy woman hero. Shecontinues to fight for the rightsof South Africans, especiallywomen.

Fifty-fifty representation canhelp people prove themselves.There are many opportunities– women should grab them.

If I were not a Councillor, Iwould like to have been acommunity developmentworker, doing things to assistthe community, especiallywomen.

Councillor Zodwa Jiyane:Women must try their best tohelp each other to betterthemselves.

My role model is my mum:she has a really strongcharacter and has managed tokeep everything together,despite the challenges. Irespect her a great deal.

Fifty-fifty genderrepresentation is great. It is afair system and will besuccessful if implementedcorrectly.

If I wasn’t a Councillor, Iwould have looked tobecoming a teacher, as I amqualified for it.

Councillor Managi Johnson:Women are emotionally andspiritually strong. They candefinitely do it for themselves.

They need to empowerthemselves because they playa pivotal role in society.

My role model is my mum.Nothing keeps her down. Sheis a strong woman and I drawstrength from her.

The call for 50-50 genderrepresentation is great.Women are powerful. They willdo a great job in anything.

If I were not a Councillor, Iwould be a counsellor, as Ihave a qualification inpsychology.

Councillor NhlanhlaMadikizela: I would say towomen, go out there andparticipate. Everyone is equal.Go out and do it for yourself.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela ismy hero. She is a strongwoman, who fights for womenin SA. She has done a lot forwomen.

Fifty-fifty genderrepresentation meanseveryone is equal, and hasequal opportunities.

Women should rather electwomen for higher positionsbecause they are capable andskilled too.

I would be a communityworker, had I not been aCouncillor.

Councillor Jean Lindsay:Women must have a vision.Put in 100% effort. Take upthe opportunities and continueto achieve. Work hard andreach for the stars.

I admire Helen Zille. She isstrong, and has a strong visionfor the country.

In terms of the 50-50 genderrepresentation, I believe, thatdespite gender, people mustbe given opportunities basedon merit.

I am a teacher by profession,so if I were not a Councillor, Iwould do that.

Councillor Nokuthula Mchunu:Women must be strong anddedicated and I encouragethem to come to Councillorsfor support.

I admire Home AffairsMinister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. I learnt a lot from herwhen I served under her in theTreasury Committee when shewas still in KwaZulu-Natal.

The President’s genderequality message isremarkable but women mustnot be picked just to make upnumbers – they should havequalifications and capacity.

I wanted to be a nurse whenI was growing up, to work in ahospital and help people.

Councillor Selverani Naidoo:Women must stand togetherfor equality and justice forwomen, regardless of theirpolitical party.

Helen Zille and the lateHelen Suzeman are my rolemodels. I like the way theyhandle things.

I do not believe in a quotasystem, women must beselected on merit.

If I was not in politics I wouldhave loved being amotivational speaker toempower women.

Councillor NompumeleloMhlongo: Women’s Monthshould not end in August –women’s issues should beaddressed 365 days of theyear.

I urge women to takeadvantage of the opportunitiesthe Municipality has madeavailable.

My woman hero is FreneGinwala – the first womanSpeaker of Parliament. I learnta lot from her and she wasvery brave.

I always wanted to be achartered accountant becauseI love working with figures.

Councillor Thandi Mngadi:Women must work and usetheir God-given talents.

God gave you two hands, soinstead of sitting andcomplaining of being jobless,use them.

My woman hero is HelenZille because she has apassion of helping people,especially those at grass rootslevel.

We are 100% behindPresident Jacob Zuma’s callfor 50/50 gender equalitybecause we also want ourvoices to be heard.

If I was not in politics I wouldhave been a communitydeveloper. Even now I aminvolved in community work.

Councillor NtombizodwaSibiya: Women shouldcontribute to history by lookingat what other women beforeus did to make this countryfree.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela ismy hero. She played a big rolein the lives of women in thiscountry. Nkosazana DlaminiZuma is also a hero.

I welcome the 50/50 genderrepresentation. In fact, if I hadit my way it should be 60/40because there are men whoare failing to even look aftertheir families.

If I was not involved inpolitics I would be working asa community worker.

Councillor Sharmaine Morar:Women must believe inthemselves and support eachother because if we can dothat we can go far.

Graca Machel is my rolemodel. She is friendly, down toearth and always willing tooffer advice. On top of it allshe has managed to take careof our hero, Nelson Mandela.

President Jacob Zuma madea move in the right directionon the 50/50 gender equalityissue because no-one is aboveanyone else, we are all equal.

I would have loved to havebecome a social workerbecause you are able to bepart of someone’s life andshow them how to live well.

Councillor NomathembaPhungula: Women should lovethemselves and don’t allowmen to tell them what to do.

Helen Zille is my herobecause she stands by whatshe believes in.

Jacob Zuma’s 50/50 genderrepresentation is very good. Ina democratic country peopleshould all be the same and wethank the President very muchfor making this happen – evenin Parliament you can see ithappening.

If I was not involved inpolitics I would be doing publicrelations. I liked it a lot when Iwas growing up.

Councillor MthembuKhanyisile: Women must learnto trust themselves first beforewanting to prove their ability toothers. Once they believe inthemselves they can go far –truly to top positions. Never,ever doubt yourself.

My late grandmother is myrole model. I am where I amtoday because of hermotivation and strong words ofencouragement.

The 50/50 equality initiativeis a very good. In the Bible itsays all people are equal, andwho are we not to respectwhat is written in the Bible.

I was a nurse. I get peaceand stability when I helpothers.

Councillor Marry-JaneNtshangase: Women shouldhelp and uplift each other.

Women should love oneanother and assist each other,be they neighbours orcolleagues. This should notonly happen during Women’sMonth.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma isdefinitely my hero because ofher work ethic, humblenessand dedication.

Fifty-fifty genderrepresentation is very goodsince women out-number men.

I would have been a socialworker.

Councillor Ntombi Ndlela: Weas women must love ourfamilies and work hard. Whenwe set our mind on somethingwe achieve because we have apassion that no-one can takeaway from us.

MEC for Arts, Culture andTourism Weziwe Thusi is myhero. Her speeches and wordsare always inspiring.

The call for 50/50 genderequality is long overdue. TheANC Women’s League foughtfor this in 2007 at Polokwane.We want a say in whateverdecisions are taken.

I would love being a socialworker because you get achance to be a good influenceon people.

A lack of space has prevented us from publishing theWomen’s Month comments of all our women Councillors.

We will continue with the series in the next edition.