Ruth Mompati: Irish Step Up Fight Against Apartheid

Ruth Mompati: Irish Step Up Fight Against Apartheid

(Statement by Ruth Mompati on behalf of the African National Congress of South Africa at the Annual General Meeting of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement, 2 May 1981)

“It is with great pleasure that I bring to this meeting the greetings of the ANC of South Africa. This is my first visit to Ireland, but your country is familiar to me, as it is to my organisation and its militants, because of the great anti-colonial tradition of the Irish people, who themselves fought against centuries of oppression and exploitation by British colonialism, for democracy and freedom.

“Ireland’s revolutionary heroes, men like James Larkin and James Connolly, to name only two, have a special place in our minds as great inspirers of the world-wide struggle of people for peace, progress and democracy. The Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement is known to me and my organisation as an ally of the struggling people of our country – and it is as comrades and allies that the African National Congress greets you today.

“Comrade chairman and friends, you are no doubt aware that the Botha-Malan clique have secured another victory for Apartheid in the all-white election held a couple of days ago. Let me say at the outset that the election has got nothing to do with the solution of the burning problems facing the black majority. It has everything to do with maintaining and perpetuating the racist-exploitative system in South Africa, securing the super-profits of the multinational corporations operating there, holding on to the power and privilege of the white minority, and extending the grip of imperialism over the whole of the Southern African sub-continent.

“As far as the black majority is concerned, nothing has changed. Nothing will change until we have destroyed and buried racism and Apartheid in our country and established a people’s government based on the principles of non-racialism, democracy and social justice.

The struggle continues. Nothing short of the armed seizure of state political power is going to satisfy the oppressed in our country. This is what the ANC is committed to. There is no other alternative. We must at all times vigorously jettison the illusion created by the media in the western capitals that the Botha-Malan victory holds forth prospects for real change in South Africa. We must expose the bankruptcy of the so-called programme of reforms that the racist regime has embarked on, and will now pursue with added vigour.

What, indeed, is the main content of these measures, and what are they designed for? Let us examine them briefly.

“The racist regime has been taking measures along a broad front to defend itself against the growing threat to its survival from the mass upsurge of the black people and the liberation struggle led by the ANC. All these measures have on aim in common – to divert and absorb the demand and struggle of the black people for national and social emancipation. These measures include, inter alia:

“1) The acceleration of the Bantustan programme to confer a bogus independence on the African majority and serving the function of labour reserves for the white-controlled economy. At the same time, the objective is to weaken the growing unity of the African people on the basis of a false national consciousness by encouraging tribalism.

“2) The proposed new political dispensation for the oppressed Coloured and Indian peoples contained in the revised constitutional proposals. This scheme envisages the co-option of individual collaborators among these national groups into a political structure which will be controlled and dominated by the white racists and in which their only function will be as advisors to the regime on how best to implement Apartheid in the Coloured and Indian communities. This is another attempt to divide these communities from their African compatriots, to dilute the demand for full democracy for all the people, and to isolate these communities from their vanguard movement, the ANC, and its revolutionary programme, the Freedom Charter.

“3) The new Bill on labour relations in the wake of the Wiehahn and Riekert commissions, which will have the effect of more curbs and controls and restrictions on black labour, while giving the impression of granting greater freedoms to black workers. The Apartheid regime clearly hopes that these measures will dampen the drive of the black working class for genuine and independent trade unions and for full economic and political rights.

“4) The gradual lifting of ‘Petty Apartheid’ restrictions, like allowing blacks to sit on park benches and throwing open some cinemas, theatres and hotels for blacks and whites.

“5) The creation of opportunities for the growth of a middle clss among the blacks as beneficiaries of Apartheid exploitation and as a social force which will stand opposed to the revolutionary overthrow of the white supremacist state.

“6) Together with such rearrangements in the socio-economic structure, the Apartheid regime is accelerating its military programme to the point of self-sufficiency in small arms and weapons; is continuing with its nuclear development programme capable of producing nuclear weapons; is increasing its manpower capacity in the army, navy, air force, police and paramilitary units, and with the active involvement of some NATO countries, particularly the United States, is linking up its strike capability, aimed at international and external repression, with that of the NATO countries.

“7) In line with this, and in the wake of the revolutionary victories of the people of Angola, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, the Botha clique have launched a murderous offensive against the frontline states. The attacks against Angola and SWAPO continue with increased ferocity; Mozambique was invaded and ANC and SACTU cadres murdered in Matola; subversive elements from these countries are being trained and armed by the racists – for example, Savimbi in Angola; scores of unarmed refugees are being killed including nationals of the countries where they have taken refuge.

“The illegal occupation and repression of the Namibian peoples continue unabated. The peace, security and development of the frontline states is seriously threatened by the Pretoria fascists. The announcement this week that South African scientists are now producing their own enriched uranium underlines the gravity of this threat. The delivery of the Plessey mobile radar system from Britain to South Africa cannot be ignored, either.

“How can these measures be taken to mean progress in South Africa? Yet this is precisely what is being said by Apartheid’s friends in the Western capitals. The political representatives of the multi-nationals in Washington, Bonn, London, Tokyo, Rome and other capitals are already acting to give credence to these schemes as positive steps for progress. Remember President Reagan’s recent statement – ‘The South Africans are our old ally’ – this is the attempts of imperialism to maintain its domination and exploitation of the vast human and raw material resources of South and Southern Africa, through the racist-fascist dictatorship.

“Within our country the last ten years have witnessed a sharp deterioration in the economic condition of our people. Inflation has been rampant leading to a spiralling in the price of basic necessities such as food, clothing, rents and fuel. The result has been an alarming decline in consumption among the black people: Maize and maize products have declined by 13%; meat by 11%; and milk by as much as 33%. The price of maize has risen by 150% in the last five years. Unemployment now stands at over 2 million, that is 20% of the total workforce.

“This is the reality of life under Apartheid. It is the reality which the ANC and the oppressed are determined to change. Yes, there is change in South Africa, comrade chair. It is the change which our revolutionary struggle is increasingly pushing forward. Change whose main motivators are the actions of our people and their revolutionary vanguard, the ANC.

“The change is manifest in the sound of gunfire directed by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, against enemy positions and targets like at Sasolburg where the regime’s oil refineries were blown up, and Durban recently, when the entire area was plunged into darkness as a result of extensive damages to the electricity generating power plants. Such armed actions are now becoming a growing feature of the South African reality.

“The change is manifest in the countrywide upsurge of our people. At every instance they are confronting the Apartheid state and resisting the system. Young and old, workers, youth, students and women are involved in the strikes, boycotts, stay-at-homes and opposition to job reservation, bogus works committees and codes of conduct in wage settlements. There are boycotts and protests at high rents, increased bus fares, Bantu Education and Apartheid sports. The people’s boycott and protest extend to all those who come to our country in violation of our express call of all-round isolation and boycott of Apartheid.

“The boycott includes pop groups and actors. It very definitely includes Irish rugby players. We of the ANC condemn this tour and call upon the Irish Government to stop this tour. We would like to comment the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement and the people of Ireland on the popular campaign supported by all the people of Ireland for the struggle of our people.

“Comrade Chair and friends, Let us be clear about one thing: the decisive feature of South African political life – election or no election – is that strategically the initiative for change, real change, has shifted into the hands of the liberation forces headed by the African National Congress of South Africa. This has forced the white minority regime into a position of permanent strategic defence of the system. This factor governs everything that is happening within South Africa as well as internationally in regard to the question of Apartheid. The racists have been forced into this position by the growing strength, stature and successes of the liberation struggle and the realignment of forces on the side of our revolution in Southern Africa.

“We expect, therefore, that there will be greater militarisation of the South African society, increased military contacts between the racist regime and the military and intelligence establishments of the West, as witnessed in the United States recently. There will be more acts of brutal suppression of the liberation movement both within and outside of South Africa, and increasing and worse acts of aggression against the frontline states.

“All this serves to emphasise yet again the importance of intensifying our all-round offensive against the Botha-Malan regime to shorten its lifespan, reduce its capacity for murder and destruction, and sooner rather than later, destroy it. In this situation concrete political and material support for the African National Congress is a material force in our liberation drive. We ask you, our friend and ally, to continue and raise even higher your efforts at solidarity and support.

“Fight for the total isolation of the Pretoria regime!
Fight for the implementation by your government and the United Nations for comprehensive mandatory economic sanctions and an oil embargo!
Fight for the release of Nelson Mandela and all political prisoners!
Fight to stop the apartheid murder of ANC freedom fighters Lubisi, Manana and Mashigo! Demand the unconditional release and handover to the government of Mozambique of ANC cadres Selby Mavuso, David Thobela and Thibe Ntsekang, kidnapped by the racist troops during their murderous raid on ANC residences in Maputo, Mozambique!
Fight for the recognition of captured freedom fighters as prisoners of war!

“Do this and much more, comrades. And Apartheid tyranny, racism and colonialism in South and Southern Africa will be destroyed sooner than later.”

AMANDLA! MATLA!
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Source:
Ruth Mompati, “Irish Step Up Fight Against Apartheid”, Sechaba, June Issue, 1981.

Castro Khwela
Good morning fellow Compatriots!🙏🏾✊🏾👊🏾