Nocwaka Lamani

"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 of seats reserved for women"

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

"A measured and God-fearing woman not usually given to such outbursts"

"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."

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

"MPs need a legal desk to explain legislation to them. When the department briefs you, you have no way of understanding. You’re not debating with effective input,”"

"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."