South Africa’s history is rooted in continental solidarity. Neighbouring states and the
broader African community stood with us during apartheid. That debt of solidarity
remains. Solidarity was never a one-way street. Africa stood with the struggling
masses of South Africa, and we stood with Africa. That is the tradition we must
honour today.
Our history records the intervention by the ANC President, Mr. O.R. Tambo when
President Julius Nyerere of newly independent Tanganyika appealed for help in 1961.
THE TWENTY NIGHTINGALES
The British nurses were refusing to serve the new nation and left with their
single tickets back to Britain, a crisis in healthcare loomed.
President Tambo responded, he mobilised a group of South African professional
nurses to go and rescue Tanganyika. They came to be known as the “20
Nightingales.” They left South Africa through Bechuanaland and reached
Tanganyika. Their service helped stabilise a fledgling Tanganyika’s health system.
That is our legacy too.
President Tambo showed that same solidarity again when UNITA bandits,
sponsored by apartheid South Africa and the entire Western World, advanced to
seize Angola. Umkhonto we Sizwe combatants joined MPLA and the Cuban forces
launching counter attacks that forced UNITA Bandits to retreat for good.
MK cadres lie buried in Angola today, and as we have done in Zambia and
Zimbabwe, we will go back to Angola to repatriate the mortal remains of our heroes and heroines or conduct a symbolic cultural repatriation, we will not be going there
for mine or gold fields of Angola, but to bring our own home with dignity.
We have seen our Cuban brothers do the same for their fallen combatants.
But solidarity must also include responsibility to our own people and to those who
seek refuge here. We cannot build a just society if we ignore the strain on
communities, public services, and the rule of law. High unemployment, failing
infrastructure and weak border management, these create tensions. When that
tension is left unaddressed, it erupts into skirmishes, criminality, and division. None
of these advance the Africa we want.
THE THREE TRUTHS WE MUST UPHOLD
Three truths we must hold together:
Solidarity is not open borders without order, freedom of movement across Africa’s
borders must be accompanied by discipline, planning, and law. The same must
apply to migration, managed migration protects both South Africans and foreign
nationals. Chaos helps only exploiters, human traffickers, slumlords, and those who
undercut wages.
Our economic challenges are domestic first, unemployment and service delivery
shortfalls existed before migration reached this boiling point. Fixing our education
system, industrial policy and local government is the foundation. Migration policy
must sit inside this broader plan and not replace it.
Law must apply equally to all, no one is above the law not South Africans who
commit violence, and not foreign nationals who engage in crime. When the law is
weak, fear and rumor fill the gap. Strong, fair enforcement protects everyone.
MKLWV welcomes the outcomes of the security cluster briefings last week, it really
brought about the neccesary hope to our current challenges.
MKLWV calls for:
Managed, documented migration that aligns with labor needs and national
capacity.
Crackdown on criminal networks that profit from undocumented movement
and exploitation.
- Investment in townships and rural areas so economic opportunity reduces
competition for scraps. Probably we might wish to borrow from policies like
Emiritisation. - Diplomatic engagement with SADC and AU to share responsibility for
development and mobility across the region and the continent.
South Africa did not win freedom alone and we will not solve our challenges
alone either. - But solutions start at home with order, accountability, and a clear
vision for shared prosperity. Renewal of our institutions in and outside
government cannot be overstated. Like President Cyril Ramaphosa asserted
“Renew or Perish” what is your choice?
Media enquiries:
Mr. Eric Gaborone: 060 960 3960
Email: [email protected]
Lennox Klaas:
Spokesperson
What’s app: 071 8944 306
Email: [email protected]
Issued by:
Dan Hatto
MKLWV
National Chair
Comments
7 responses
Renew
Renewal of solidarity
Amandla cadres
Of course, as former combatants of Umkhonto We Sizwe (MKLWV) of the African National Congress, we, first and foremost, need to inform the people of South Africa about the role and support that we received from the Southern African States (Former Frontline States, now SADC), as well as from some North African countries.
The people of South Africa must be taught about the participation of the former Frontline States and some North African countries in the National Liberation Struggle of our country, to allow them to make appropriate and sound decisions regarding the current immigration crisis affecting SA.
I think the time for ‘politically correct’ statements and diplomatic platitudes regarding illegal immigration is over. Such pronouncements really do not take us anywhere forward. The government has failed to stem the tide of uncontrolled influx into the country. The marches that started earlier in the year are a signal we’ve reached a tipping point and rather than condemn, belittle or dismiss our people who bear the brunt of drug/human trafficking, hijacking of buildings, disrespect of the law, entitlement, etc, we should all support the call for ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS/IMMIGRANTS to leave the country! There is No Middle Road to this stance unless we choose to embrace foreigners (illegals) at the expense of our nation. Let’s not antagonize our Own People.
To Vuyisile Radebe
Thank you for your comment on the question of the “illegal foreigners/IMMIGRANTS.
However you make some serious generalisations that cannot go unchallenged. For example you say
“The marches that started earlier in the year are a signal we’ve reached a tipping point and
rather than condemn, belittle or dismiss our people who bear the brunt of drug/human trafficking,
hijacking of buildings, disrespect of the law, entitlement, etc,
we should all support the call for ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS/IMMIGRANTS to leave the country!
In this instance you are conflating acts of criminality by some and attributing these to all
the “illegal foreigners” you do not provide the necessary evidence in this regard.
This is also inclusive of the narrative that the “ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS/IMMIGRANTS” are taking jobs
from South Africans. Of course your comment does not say so. But how far true is this narrative.
If all the “ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS/ IMMIGRANTS” left the country today – would it solve the unemployment
crisis in the country. Without prejudging the Madlanga Commission the evidence being presented there
suggests that some elements in the police and the criminal justice system are complicit in drug
trafficking. I think it is important that we should have our facts correct and provide empirical
evidence for the opinions we hold. History bears testimony to the fact that we have lived peacefully with
nationals from Malawi, Mozambique , Lesotho, Zambia, Botswana etc. Some have even become naturalised citizens of
South Africa.
Then there is also the fact that Africa contributed immensely to the liberation struggle in South Africa which is a
historical fact. Therefore the question of “ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS/ IMMIGRANTS” is a matter that is complex and must be
dealt with in all complexities. But it can be said without any equivocation that NOT ALL UNDOCOCUMENTED MIGRANTS
IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE DRUG DEALERS, INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HIJACKING BUILDINGS”
This is purely criminal and the law enforcement agencies mu be seen to be doing their job.