Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has cautioned women in leadership positions against allowing relationships with younger men, popularly known as “Ben 10s”, to influence their judgement, claiming such relationships have contributed to the downfall of many female leaders.
Ramathuba was speaking during the handover of a newly built house to the family of conjoined twins in Lulekani on Wednesday, urging women in positions of power to remain focused on their responsibilities and not allow their personal relationships to interfere with their decision-making or public duties.
“I know ourselves as women. I am also a woman, we should stop this,” she told those gathered.
Ramathuba said she had observed a pattern among women in politics whose careers had unravelled because of the influence of younger romantic partners.
“If you look at the downfall of women in leadership, especially us women in politics, I thought maybe I must take it out of my chest. The downfall of us women, look at all the women who are removed, some of us very old, it’s because of Ben 10s. That’s what is happening. Am I lying? I am not. That is our downfall,” she said.
