CAPE TOWN, May 15, 2017 (WAFA) – A number of South Africans embarked on a 24-hour hunger strike on Monday in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike for 28 days.
Anti-apartheid struggle veteran Laloo Chiba, 86, has appealed to all South Africans to participate in a 24-hour hunger strike on May 15 in support of Palestinian political prisoners.
Chiba, who already undertook a 24-hour hunger strike on May 3, encouraged “all freedom loving individuals” to support the #DignityStrikeSA campaign.
Several ministers, including Minister of Communications Ayanda Dlodlo, Minister of Heath Aaron Motsoaledi, Deputy Minister in the South African Presidency Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Nomaindia Mfeketo, Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty and former Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, have confirmed that they will heed the call to action and embark on the solidarity hunger strike along with ordinary citizens.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Nomaindia Mfeketo, said in a statement on this occasion that “It is with a heavy hart that I, along with other South Africans from all walks of life, embark on this symbolic 24 hour #DignityStrikeSA solidarity hunger fast to lend our support to the Palestinian political prisoners on hunger strike.”
She added: ‘To many of us our solidarity in this campaign is very personal because of our own experience under Apartheid. We too, like the heroic Palestinians, were once called terrorists. We, like the Palestinians, were detained. We, like the Palestinians today, embarked on hunger strike from our prisons cells in protest against Apartheid South Africa’s human rights violations.
“It is precisely because of our own history that myself and so many other government officials including our deputy president and my colleagues in cabinet have joined this solidarity action with members of South African civil society.”
Mfeketo said: “I myself was detained during the 1980s and embarked on a hunger strike in protest against Apartheid South Africa’s practice of detention without trial among other issues. The first time was when I was arrested on 7th January 1987 and held for 9 months and the second time when I detained in August 1988 until May 1989. When I was arrested in 1988 I was with my 3 week old child. My heart and strength goes out to my fellow Palestinian mothers.”
Other individuals who have committed to participate in the hunger strike include former Robben Island prisoners Kehla Shubane and Mpho Masemola, and ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte.
Radio and TV personality Kuli Roberts, TV presenters Shaka Sisulu and entertainer Nina Hastie, and media personalities Kay Sexwale, Yusuf Abramjee, Bongani Mbindwane and journalist Janet Smith have also confirmed their participation.
Commenting on the importance of participating in the solidarity action, Chiba said, “As a former Robben Island prisoner for 18 years, and a political detainee in the 1980s, we had embarked on several hunger strikes against the apartheid prison authorities. I feel that I am duty bound today, to support the Palestinians, who are in the same condition that we were in all those years ago.”
Unperturbed about his age and the health risk it may pose to him, Chiba was adamant that he would participate. “We must pledge our continued support for the freedom and dignity of the Palestinian people, just as countless people across the world did for South Africans standing up against the brutal apartheid regime.”
He said “I am convinced that those who support the Palestinian struggle will be willing to sacrifice their meals for 24 hours to boost the morale of our comrades in Palestine, who have been without food for almost a month.
Chiba believes the show of global solidarity will send a strong message to the Israeli authorities that the Palestinians are not alone in their struggle and that South Africans’ support will not diminish until they achieve freedom and dignity.
M.K.
