The time is right for a woman President: ANCWL’s Sisisi Tolashe

African National Congress Women’s League President Sisisi Tolashe (right) and Bathabile Dlamini (left) at the party’s January 8 statement celebrations in North West, January 10, 2026.

African National Congress Women’s League President Sisisi Tolashe says the time has come for the party to have a woman President.

Tolashe made the comments at the Moruleng Stadium in the North-West, where the ANC is hosting its 114th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

This as the ANC will head into a conference in 2027 to elect a new leader.

While Tolashe has not yet named a preferred candidate from the ANC Women’s League, she says the Women’s League will pronounce on it in due course.

“The time has come. There’s always been capable women in the ANC. There are capable women, as you speak. As we know, that discussion has not been opened yet. However, as the ANC Women’s League, we have a right to say, this time around, we would want to see a woman President that will lead the ANC.”

VIDEO | ANCWL President Sisisi Tolashe on a woman leader:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTWsD97SWzc

Meanwhile, the ANC’s national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, says party President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address service delivery challenges in the January 8 statement.

Bhengu says while North-West residents are raising valid service delivery concerns, some of them have been addressed.

“We are expecting that the President will offer a sustained discussion and the roadmap of the ANC, building on that action plan. We’re mindful of the concerns of our people in this province, but we also equally note the work that has been done to try and upgrade the roads. There are roads that have been freshly done; those portholes have to be closed as a matter of urgency and I expect that the President will touch on all of those things.”

Today is the January 8 Statement Rally, as the African National Congress marks 114 years since its founding. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the January 8 Statement, outlining the movement’s priorities and programme of action as the ANC renews its commitment to serve… pic.twitter.com/Obp3mcciBe

— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) January 10, 2026