By Alicia Mmashakana
Members of the Tripartite Alliance have hit out at the US government’s decision to issue refugee status to a group of 49 white Afrikaners.
The ANC said on Tuesday there were no Afrikaner refugees in South Africa, and there was no section of society that was harassed, persecuted or subjected to ethnic harassment.
“These claims are a fabrication, and a cowardly political construct designed to delegitimise our democracy and insult the sacrifices made by generations who fought for freedom,” ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said in a statement.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump are set to meet next week to discuss the matter. However, Ramaphosa did defend South Africa’s anti-apartheid policies during a call with Trump.
Bhengu-Motsiri said that South Africa would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter this year, and the enduring truth was that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white”.
The party condemned the use of refugee protections to shield right-wing, anti-transformation elements as a violation of both the spirit and letter of international law.
“We call on all South Africans to unite in defence of the truth, constitutionalism and national sovereignty. Ours is not a broken or failing state, it is a people’s democracy advancing against the tides of distortion and destructive divisive narratives,” she said.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions said those seeking greener pastures were not refugees by any stretch of the imagination or common sense, which had been confirmed by the United Nations.
Cosatu parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks said: “We wish our 49 compatriots well in their new adventure in the US and hope they find peace in their hearts. They should appreciate that the US, like South Africa and every other nation, has its challenges and is not perfect.”
He went on to say that Cosatu hoped that they would embrace the diversity that was part of the American fabric, warning if they were looking for a 21st century “volkstaat”, they may need to reconsider their plans.
Cosatu praised the ANC-led government, particularly President Cyril Ramaphosa, for consistently representing the nation with integrity and humility.
“The president’s dignity has provided comfort to society and lays the foundation for a mutually beneficial reset in the important relationship between the US and South Africa; one that lifts bilateral trade, investment travel and tourism to new heights; and most importantly creates decent jobs for workers in South Africa, Africa and America,” Parks said.
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