Mbete ready to be President

In an interview hours before the Assembly debate on her alleged bias as speaker, Mbete told the newspaper she was not preoccupied by ambition for the role and was not putting herself forward for it.

 

"As a cadre of the African National Congress and as a leader in society I'm ready to play any role that I'm asked to play."

 

Shortly before re-election for his final term in office, President Jacob Zuma was quoted as saying South Africa could have a woman president "sooner than you think".

 

Mbete, who is also chairwoman of the ANC, said South Africa had been ready for a woman president for a long time.

 

According to the report, she said the ANC Women's League should use their influence to motivate for a woman president.

 

"It must be that when we go to branches, we would have discussed the issue and have a clear mandate and explain to women what the issues are... There are women who never understood they must compete with men."

 

 

(File photo: Gallo images)