Women Forward

Ngobese was inspired to create Women Forward by her grandfather's advocacy for "female leadership"; he wrote about the immense influence a mother has on a child as well as how his wife edited every one of his speeches. Ngobese also says women are more naturally "caring" and "inclusive", making them better suited to be leaders. Ngobese worked as a gender consultant for a decade, and then joined the government. After becoming concerned about the lack of governmental concerns for gender issues, Ngobese decided to start her own political party. The party contested the 2009 South African General elections, subsequently lost and lost their deposit in the process. The party's manifesto was launched in Rustenburg on 30 March 2019. == Membership ==

Women Forward has over 30,000 members within South Africa. Most membership is centered out of Limpopo, South Africa. Membership is open to people who identify as LGBTQI. Men are also permitted to join, as long as they "listen more to women's ways of doing things." Women Forward is also committed to actively recruiting "women of all races" to become members. == Mission ==

Women Forward's mission is to "help rebuild grassroots movement to advance women's agenda, democracy, freedom, peace, and justice." Women Forward aims to achieve gender parity in the South African government by 2025. == Controversies ==

In March 2019, Ngobese said:"I actually think rapists should be executed, but castration is the second best. Rape is the worst of all crime and at the moment the law's response is pitiful."Ngobese went on to say the party would advocate for the castration of rapists and child assaulters. Women Forward has also been criticized for not addressing how lack of resources due to capitalism stops women from accessing basic services and impedes their livelihoods. Although it has been alleged that Women Forward fails to recognize women who work in informal sectors, such as sex work, effectively excluding them, such speculations are false as Ngobese has debunked these claims and affirms that Women Forward includes and advocates for all women, including sex workers. Critics have also claimed that Women Forward is not a feminist party, rather, promotes ideas about women that are detrimental and further bolsters the point that politics are only for men. ==Election results==

National elections Provincial elections == Future Outlooks ==

As of the 2019 election, Women Forward had not won any provincial seats or elections. Ngobese has said that "funds and the political environment was not as conducive to putting the party forward" as of 2019. == External links ==