In politics, we are what is called voting cattle – not part of the executive, just there to vote ‘yes’ to what our party wants.
This, according to DA councillor Samantha Beynon, is the role played by women councillors in Nelson Mandela Bay.
And she is not alone in believing women are often sidelined or diminished in the metro’s political arena, with other female Bay councillors echoing her sentiment.
Beynon laid bare her thoughts on Thursday night when speaking at a panel discussion at Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for Non-racialism and Democracy talk titled, “Thinking through Erasure: On being a Woman, Feminism, Protest and Democracy.”
She said she would not encourage young women to apply to become a councillor.
Beynon said the gender balance in council was very poor, with only 36 of the 120 councillors women.
“So those 36 women councillors come into council and they don’t have executive positions, so we are what we call in politics voting cattle.
“We come as, speaker ja [yes], I support [or] I don’t support,” she said referring to giving the party the vote it desired.
“Instead of having a woman in the mayoral committee who gets to lead a whole directorate and enforce the institutionalised culture to be changed.”
Just three of the 13 executive mayoral committee members are women.
On Friday, Beynon backtracked somewhat, saying instead that there was a perception that women were “voting cattle” because of the poor representation in council.
While Beynon softened her stance, other councillors agreed that women needed a louder voice in council.
Siyasanga Sijadu, of COPE, said she had had her fair share of bullying and discrimination based on gender.
“Council in general can be a very toxic environment for women. I have been one of those who has had to face patriarchy in that council, more than other female councillors.
“I have been called all sorts of things; at one point a councillor said that they are going to discipline me because I am disrespectful,” she said.
Asked if more women were needed in council, Sijadu said that merit was a greater need than subscribing to gender quotas.
While the EFF’s Yoliswa Yako, whose party follows a 5050 gender quota policy for public representation, conceded the political environment was highly patriarchal, she said that should not be reason enough for women not to participate.
“I don’t think all women in council are voting cattle, there are many women in council who have a voice.
“I have experienced a lot of intimidation and disrespect because [I am] a young black woman sitting in front of them – and it comes from black men,” she said.
ANC councillor Buyelwa Mafaya rubbished claims of the council being toxic, saying the ANC allowed for equal sharing of views and ideas.
During Thursday’s conference, Beynon said: “The challenge I have is that when people come to council the first thing they want to talk about is that we do not have enough female councillors.
“But why are we not extending the discussion to the institutional culture those 36 [women] are subjected to every day in that council?
“Can I be honest with you? As one of those 36 councillors right now, I wouldn’t advise any young woman, in particular, to apply to become a councillor,” she said.
On Friday, DA councillor Annette Lovemore said there was seldom patriarchal behaviour from male colleagues.
“I have never experienced a female councillor’s capability being substantively undermined, and nor have I experienced any intimidation by male councillors,” she said.
“We certainly, however, acknowledge that only 31% of all Nelson Mandela Bay councillors are female and that this needs to be addressed.
“The women who are in council deserve to be there. They are not quota councillors.
“They have applied and succeeded, and are there on their own merit. I am unclear how their presence can be equated with being voting cattle.”
Last year, a motion to form a multiparty women’s caucus to ensure equality and equity failed as the bulk of the council members voted against it.
Council speaker Jonathan Lawack said: “As far as my knowledge goes, that motion was not approved by council to form the multiparty caucus.”