African Activist Archive

Statement by Jay Naidoo, General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (SACTU) and representative from the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) in South Africa, distributed by the Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid. The MDM is an alliance of major anti-apartheid organizations, the core of which is COSATU and the United Democratic Front (UDF). Naidoo paid tribute to the Special Committee against Apartheid for its contribution to the South African struggle for freedom and thanked countries that have supported this struggle in diverse ways. Apartheid is an international issue, the United Nations needs to act. COSATU has struck at the roots of apartheid - the cheap labor system. Naidoo called attention to the recent Defiance Campaign launched by the MDM and the centrality of the African National Congress (ANC) and its vision of a non-racial, united and democratic South Africa. Naidoo argued that De Klerk is making concessions because of the internal mass struggle and external pressures, including economic sanctions; therefore, the MDM rejects any attempt to relax the pressure on the apartheid regime. Naidoo condemned international bankers who had rescheduled South Africa's foreign debt and the continuing undermining of existing sanctions measures, in particular the arms and oil embargoes. Naidoo urged the U.N. Security Council to impose comprehensive and mandatory sanctions. Last week, 4,600 representatives to the Conference for a Democratic Future adopted the Harare Declaration and the program for the transition from apartheid to a democratic South Africa. Decisive international action against apartheid now can mean the difference between life and death for tens of thousands of our people. Naidoo asked the special session of the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a consensus declaration. The statement mentions the National Party, civil war, destabilization of the region, and the OAU (Organization of African Unity).

African Activist Archive

STATEMENT BY MR. JAY NAIDOO, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MASS DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

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