While working at a business school in Sandton, where the brutally murdered Karabo Mokwena went to school, comrade Felicia Orjiakor decided to join the ANC so she can fight racial and GBV injustice.
Joining the ANCWL was the answer “I joined the ANC to help fight the dark cloud that has overshadowed us as a country, I did not know where to go, and I did not know who to speak to”. She spoke to an ANC comrade who asked her, “Why don’t you join the ANC Women’s League? I was so overwhelmed – as I felt that God had sent her to me that day”.
Mama Winnie Mandela and Minister Naledi Pandor have inspired her with their selfless examples. “Mama Winnie fought with the last drop of her blood to ensure that we are where we are today. We wouldn’t be where we are – without her resilience, stubbornness and with the ‘enough is enough’ attitude that pushed through the walls that barricaded South Africa”.
“Mama Pandor proves to women that you can achieve anything in this world! She obtained her doctorate at her age, regardless of her busy schedule. That makes me proud to be black and shows that your background does not need to keep you in the back”. Unemployment, GBV and poverty are our issues What are the issues at the forefront of her mind? “As an African woman, I have great concern about the rate of unemployment, gender-based violence and poverty in our society. This is demotivating when you see how impoverished we are. I think we still have a long way to go.” The only way to combat gender-based violence in society is to include “the young man in our dialogues, as rapists and murderers are all born from a family. The community knows them. If boys can be taught at a young age that it is wrong to abuse women and instill it in them at a young age – then we would not be where we are as a country”.
Teach young boys in primary school to respect women If she had the opportunity to talk to our leaders, she would request, “Fathers groom boys, and that there should be programs in primary schools that teach guide, and show young boys how to act towards women”. She also would request the inclusion of youth in policy making“ We need more young leaders in parliament, and universities must partner with the private sector for employment opportunities, especially in the logistics and supply chain, production and manufacturing.”
Too many have suffered for the love of freedom. I too cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of my people to be free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated.”
Nelson Mandela
Mandela drafted the M Plan, a simple, commonsense plan for the organization on a street basis so that Congress volunteers would be in daily touch with the people, alert to their needs, and able to mobilize them.
Oliver Tambo