- The African National Congress Women's League condemned remarks Gwede Mantashe made to a journalist as derogatory and inappropriate
- The ANCWL also called for Mantashe to face organisational disciplinary action, citing his responsibility as a senior ANC leader
- ANCWL Secretary-General Nokuthula Nqaba issued the statement on 18 October 2026, rejecting any suggestion that his age excuses his conduct
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SOUTH AFRICA — The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) has demanded that ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe publicly apologise to a Newzroom Afrika journalist after making remarks the organisation condemned as derogatory and morally objectionable.
The ANCWL issued a formal statement on Sunday, 18 October 2026, expressing deep concern over Mantashe's response to a journalist who had questioned him about allegations of sexual favours-for-jobs practices within parts of South Africa's labour force. The League described his remarks as part of a broader pattern of insults directed at women and called for immediate accountability.
ANCWL apologises to journalist
The Women's League extended its own apology to the journalist involved and urged Mantashe to do the same, both to her and to the general public. ANCWL Secretary-General Nokuthula Nqaba, who issued the statement, rejected the argument that Mantashe's age or seniority should mitigate his conduct, arguing that leadership demands greater, not lesser, responsibility.
"Comrade Gwede Mantashe is an elder and a respected leader who holds a national office in the ANC, an organisation with a tradition, a culture and foundational principles of respect and dignity of all," the statement read.
The League further stressed the ANC's constitutional commitment to non-sexism and equality, and argued that its senior officials carry an obligation to model revolutionary morality and support moral regeneration in public life.
ANC leadership called to act
Beyond the apology, the ANCWL called on the ANC's national leadership to formally reprimand Mantashe and ensure he takes full responsibility for his words. The statement was unambiguous in its expectations:
"As an elder of the ANC, he should offer women wisdom and counsel, not subject them to morally objectionable language."
The demands place considerable pressure on the ANC's leadership to respond, with the League making clear that a public apology alone may not satisfy its concerns. The controversy also arrives at a politically sensitive moment, as parties position themselves ahead of upcoming local government elections, drawing sharper scrutiny to how senior figures conduct themselves in public.
Mantashe had not issued a response to the ANCWL's demands at the time the statement was released.
Mantashe pushes back against Malatji
Previously, Briefly News reported that ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe pushed back against ANCYL leader Collen Malatji's comments about his departure from the COSATU conference Mantashe argued that Malatji lacks the experience to understand the established customs of the tripartite alliance The ANC chairperson insisted his exit was not a walkout and refused to engage Malatji in a public media debate.
Source: Briefly News
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