In a country where opportunities continue to be defined by gender, among others, it is becoming increasingly significant to create opportunities exclusively meant to capacitate and support women. Considering this, the Office of the Chief Whip in the City of Tshwane requested the creation of a formal structure or platform as part of its mandate to ensure the welfare and capacity-building of councillors as highlighted in the Corporate Systems of Delegation (26 January 2012).
The establishment of the Multiparty Womxn’s Caucus (MPWC) was approved by Council in March 2022. The name of the caucus is captured as “womxn” as an alternative term to avoid the suggestion of sexism perceived in the sequences m-a-n and m-e-n, and to be inclusive of trans and non-binary persons.
The MPWC comprises the full complement of female councillors in Council. The work of the MPWC is coordinated through a working committee that has been established and consists of eight members. The MPWC Executive Committee is constituted as follows:
- Chairperson: Cllr Sandy Motale
- Deputy Chairperson: Cllr Catherine Mabaswa
- Other members:
- Cllr Elisa Mlotshwa
- Cllr Yvonne Dzumba
- Cllr Carien Nefdt
- Cllr Flora Monama
- Cllr Boitumelo Rasweswe
- Cllr Debyre Williams-Moses