SA is ready for a woman leader: Pandor

By Simon Nare

African National Congress veteran Dr Naledi Pandor believes women within the organisation have the muscle and capacity to mobilise behind a female candidate to lead the party and ultimately the country.

Speaking to Inside Politics in a wide-ranging interview, Pandor said South Africa was more than ready to be led by a woman but society was too patriarchal, so there was a lack of appetite to support a woman.

She agreed that despite the hype within the ANC to have gender parity in most structures and a lot of talk about the organisation and the country being ready to be led by a woman, there was not much push or support for this to become a reality.

The former minister, who left politics after the national elections last year, said it was up to those who had access to power to deliver a woman leader.

“I think