International solidarity is a crucial element in defending the rights of oppressed people around the world. Recently, a march in support of Palestine brought together a large crowd of ANC supporters in Cape Town. The event took place during a May Day rally organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) at Athlone Stadium.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s long-standing commitment to the Palestinian cause. In his speech, he called on workers to join the fight to defend those who are oppressed around the world. As a country, South Africa has always supported the rights of people suffering from torture, violence and genocide, and has therefore expressed strong support for the Palestinian people in wanting their freedom.
The African National Congress (ANC), in alliance with the South African Communist Party and Cosatu, is a fervent defender of the Palestinian cause. At the event, Zingiswa Losi, President of Cosatu, highlighted the importance of government support and the movement for Palestine. She recalled that the freedom of all is not complete until the Palestinian people are free and liberated.
For many years, the ANC and many South Africans have compared Israeli policies towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to the treatment of non-whites in South Africa during Apartheid. This analogy reinforces their support for the struggle for the liberation of Palestine.
As South Africa prepares for general elections on May 29, this event demonstrates the importance of international issues in the country’s domestic politics. Solidarity with oppressed peoples around the world remains a priority for the ANC and its allies, and their commitment to the Palestinian cause only strengthens the connections between struggles for freedom and justice across the globe.