“The ANCWL calls on all it’s structures in provinces, regions and branches to meet and deeply analyse the outcomes of these elections in order to provide constructive feedback to the ANC in shaping a way forward,” said the women’s league in a statement late on Sunday.

It also said it noted the decline in support for the ANC in various metropolitan municipalities, particularly in Nelson Mandela Bay, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and Ekhurhuleni.

The highly contested Local Government Elections point to tough competition for the ruling ANC in the upcoming national elections in two years' time.

“All lessons learned from these elections will guide the movement in approaching the 2019 elections, in regaining the lost grounds and increase its voters margin,” said the ANCWL.

In the statement issued ahead of Women’s Day, a public holiday on Tuesday, the ANCWL said it “salutes all women volunteers within and outside its ranks who put in long hours” during voter registration and the 3 August elections.

“Your dedication and hard work has contributed to the high number of voters registered and nearly three million women registered to participate in this year’s Local Government Elections,” said the ANCWL.

“The dedication and hard work of ANCWL volunteers has contributed in the ANC remaining the foremost choice and trusted political party by most South Africans.

“The ANCWL calls on all its structures to remain united, resolute and unapologetically demand all elected Councillors to champion the priorities of women in Councils countrywide.”

In areas where there will be coalitions, the women’s league said: “The ANCWL will firmly oppose any coalition government that will undermine the 50/50 gender parity and regress the gains of women’s struggle in our country”.

The ANCWL said the participation of women in building a prosperous, united and democratic country was not an act of charity. but a hard-earned democratic right.

“Therefore, any patriarchal tendencies of excluding women in key decision-making structures of Councils will be challenged and defeated by the united, resolute, unapologetic women’s league of the ANC.”

ANA