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. - Nocwaka Lamani

Women have brought a different culture to Parliament. It’s less of a beer-swilling, let’s sort things out in the bar kind of place.

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.

If it weren’t for the ANC ladies and the pressure they put on the government, females would have been much worse off.