19 April 2015, Johannesburg, South Africa Alliance Statement to the African Continent and the International Community The Alliance Secretariat, made up of the national secretaries of the African National Congress, South African Communist Party, Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civic Organisation, met in Johannesburg on April 17th 2015. Among the matters on its agenda, it deliberated on the xenophobic attacks that have gripped South Africa in recent days. The ANC-led Alliance is saddened by the xenophobic attacks directed at African foreign nationals who reside in South Africa. We recognise the strong relationship that exists between the National Liberation Movement, led by the ANC, and countries of Africa; which was forged in the crucible of struggle during the dark days of apartheid. We cherish the unselfish and steadfast contribution made by all African countries and its people to our liberation and our emerging democracy. Many of our fellow Africans spoke in support of our struggle, provided us with material support and fought side by side with us, sharing the trenches and actual combat against our oppressor. Many of them lost their lives in the process, including being victims of cross border raids when the apartheid forces sought to bomb us where we lived in exile. We will never, for a single moment, forget this support. It is a living evidence of what a united African people can achieve to defeat their common enemy. We unequivocally condemn, in the strongest possible terms, all forms of violence meted against all people, in particular violence against people who are foreign nationals in our country. As the ANC-led alliance we note the deep seated socio-economic problems that confront the majority of South Africans and Africans. The continent as a whole is confronted by underdevelopment and the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. The alliance and the ANC-led government has made a commitment to eradicate poverty and unemployment, and reduce inequality through radical economic transformation and other programmes, to holistically address the challenges that confront South Africa and the continent. Part of the work we continue to do include working to support a people-centred regional integration, which prioritises the needs and full co-operation of all people of this region. Business interests should be subordinated to those of the people, especially the working class and the poor. In this regard, the free movement of people is very critical to the integration of the region. This also include working towards the progressive harmonisation of labour standards in the region, to allow workers in all countries to enjoy full and equal rights, as well as ensure that companies do not play one worker against another, one country against another and one section of the region against another; in a downward race to the bottom. In other words, no country must be forced to lower its standards in order to attract foreign investment, whilst lowering the living and working standards of the majority. As the Alliance we undertake to engage with relevant stakeholders and countries to bring an end to the violence, the looting and the destruction of property. Whatever the challenges confront South Africa, they must never be used to justify violence against one another. These attacks are perpetrated against people who have similar backgrounds and are all a product of a painful colonial past, which ravaged and looted African economies leaving our people under conditions of abject poverty. As a continent we should acknowledge the devastating effects of centuries of colonial exploitation. All of us, without exception, seek to ensure sustainable livelihoods. We call on all our people to be tolerant during this challenging time and to work together to find solutions as South Africans and Africans, in a manner that builds our continent instead of destroying it. We need each other as we build the future of our continent. The solution to our problems will not be found through killing each other! The ANC led alliance and vast majority of South Africans continues to strive to build harmonious relationships with the rest of Africa. -End- Issued by: Gwede Mantashe, Secretary General African National Congress (ANC) +27.79.5091057 Solly Mapaila, 2nd Deputy General Secretary South African Communist Party (SACP) +27.82.886.5970 Bheki Ntshalintshali, Deputy General Secretary Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Mobile: +27.82.563.6973 Skhumbuzo Mpanza, General Secretary South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) Mobile: +27 849872010 -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
