Some women in the ANC had wanted the quota beefed up to one in two candidates. They failed in their bid, but it remains the only party with a quota o… - Nocwaka Lamani

Whenever female members stood up, they were clearly not interested. They [male MPs] started talking on their own.”

The gender quota is not up for debate in the ruling party and their gains have given a fillip to women in more conservative parties.

Many women say that if Parliament – the legislative arm of government – is to be the locale of power and not the executive, then women must be better trained. Many women MPs had not seen draft statutes and, having come from the trenches, were not au fait with parliamentary proceedings.