I often wonder how the South African gender equity discourse was going to be like today, had Madiba selected a woman to be his deputy in Government.

The month of August always has an aura of hope and inspiration about it, this is a month where we know, even though it will have a few spells of the remnants of the winter season, the worst is behind us in so far as the chill is concerned, and that the future looks bright, with spring and the eventual summer upon us.

But this is also a month where, our women are being celebrated, in recognition of the historic march by gallant women to the seat of power against a ruthless adversary in 1956, and this month was thus designated to be women’s month. The celebrations are largely led by the women themselves, with a few and often bold men recognizing the role played by women in this country and the world over. The Covid19 pandemic and its residual effect on normalcy meant that, these celebrations and festivities where kept to a minimum, and only those with access to technology would somewhat be a part of such. I am reminded of how multitudes of women in various social formations, including churches, societies, youth clubs, community-based organs etc. would look forward to the month in anticipation of these celebrations. I personally have had the pleasure to witness the spectacular events in places of worship and political gatherings, listened to many well-crafted and delivered speeches on the contribution made by women over the years. I saw the pride in the faces of ordinary women, the hope for a better deal into the future, the almost confident feeling that, the world is changing, and that the women of the world would finally be afforded their place in history, would be recognized and acknowledged, not only as community organizers, but also, as leaders of these establishments, across various spheres of involvement including in business, politics, churches, sports, academia and research institutions among others.

Our history in South Africa, when told honestly, acknowledges the role played by women in the struggle for a non-racial, nonsexist, democratic, just, and free society in which people can realize their full potential. We watched and observed the political developments running up to 1994, the intense engagements between the then government and various political parties, we saw the role played by women, and I am sure many of the young ladies during that time, witnessing history being made, were greatly inspired by the stealth and talents of these women, and I would not be surprised if this would have influenced their political orientation and eventual involvement. The results of these engagements brought about, what is known as a negotiated settlement, and consequently, a Government of National Unity (GNU) as a demonstration of the earnest intentions of the role players. The African National Congress emerged as victors of the elections, and South Africa was to make history, by having a first democratically elected Black President. The ANC’s candidate was President Mandela, who had two deputies in the GNU arrangement, both of whom were men. I know that, the majority party went to some length to, as much as possible recognize the rights and role of women, and even had some women in senior government positions in cabinet, which was truly commendable.

We also know that, a woman’s value is not quantified by higher office, however, could we have used the opportunity to direct and influence the future of a free and equal society in some way, by selecting a woman as one of the deputies, and carry-on with that tradition interchangeably, of course based on merit and not as part of a politically correct arrangement, wouldn’t that have taken us some way to, once and for all, cement the role of women as equal partners in running a country and all its sub activities, and continue with providing the world with a model on coexistence and equality? This no doubt would have given the past generations of those courageous women, both alive and in ancestry the peace and comfort that, their struggle too, was not in vain.

As we bid farewell to women’s month for 2020, under perhaps the most difficult period in over a century, a period that has particularly been vicious to women and girls across all societal, social and economic disciplines. How do we reassure the many young ladies and men, not to wait for another calendar cycle to recognize and affirm the contribution of women in everyday life, not to wait for another century or whenever there is another pandemic outbreak to celebrate their role as front-line champions?

Are we, men, part of the reason why there is so much discord among women in the workplace through what is often referred to as a systematic Patriarchal campaign to sow division to the extent of impacting and hampering their career progression, and continue unashamedly, to normalize an abnormal occurrence, if there is a degree of complicity, how do we change the course?

How come we as a country and continent, are failing every day to do what is right?

If Africa is the next bread basket of the world, where are women in all that, are we having the correct conversations to ensure that they are central to what is to come?

I was recently ‘caught napping’ in one of the virtual speaking engagements I had during this month, when one of the participants deferred to me, a question posed to her by her 9 year old daughter: ‘Mommy, why when South Africa got its democracy in 1994, we only had men as Presidents’?

Sometimes we are compelled to be prescriptive so as to correct an obvious injustice, the collective ideal, should be to get to a predictable system that aligns to evolutionary thinking.

Please help me answer these questions.

Toney Moagi is an Executive Search Practitioner and Business Process Oversight Adviser. He is currently exploring work for debate on the concept of “The One Good Native” (An adaptation) how far have we come with the transformation project?