South Africa must protect its sovereignty as a state and reject efforts to associate Nelson Mandela’s name with the Ukrainian flag, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s Northern Cape leader, Raseriti Papi Tau, told the party’s international relations sub-committee on Monday.
Tau made the comments after NGO Uaza celebrated Ukrainian Flag Day a few days ago and used the Mandela monument in Cape Town to rally support.
“In an unfortunate incident that may be viewed as an opportunistic attempt to rewrite history, Uaza, a non-profit organisation based in South Africa, celebrated Ukrainian Flag Day in a big way, so much so that Nelson Mandela’s monument was wrapped in yellow and blue cloth.
“Nevertheless, such activities must be within the framework of respect and dignity. To many South Africans, it came as a shock to have noted the manner in which Uaza celebrated the National Flag Day of Ukraine.
“With all respect accorded to them, I found it very disrespectful and of great distaste for them to have chosen to cover the statue of our icon, father of the nation, with the Ukrainian flag.”
Tau said the NGO’s actions could be viewed as an attempt to rewrite history as it was widely known that the people and government of Russia, whom Ukraine was involved in a war against, were one of the few friends of South Africa in the war to liberate itself against “white supremacy”.
“It must also be remembered that local supporters of Ukraine include the racist DA. This begs the question why the suspicious Ukraine organisation didn’t choose to drape DA heroes with their flag? Such blatant opportunistic tendencies must be condemned with the contempt it deserves.
“I am sure that this sacrilege took place without the authorisation of the relevant personnel. I am not sure that Mandela himself would be happy to live next door to a girl whose T-shirt bears the name of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who openly co-operate with the CIA and supports terrorists in Africa, like the recent activities in Mali,” he said, adding that Ukrainians had shown their approval of the terrorist act in Mali which resulted in the death of the Malian forces and Russian instructors.
“Madiba would have never supported an Imperialist Nato programme. It is now clear that with the help of so-called refugees from Ukraine, the seeds of colour revolutions are being brought to Africa.”
Tau said that if the NGO had received authorisation from the DA provincial and city administrations, then it would be a clear demonstration of the DA’s confirming cementation of the DA/Uaza co-operation.
“This should not be seen as an accident of history, as both the DA and the Ukrainian authorities have been co-operating and, therefore, undermining the position of the country in so far as the no-alignment is concerned.
“The visit by the leader of the DA to Ukraine, against the SA government position, bears testimony to that. The relentless call of the DA for SA to be involved and, in particular, to be on the side of Ukraine is a further indication of their resolve to undermine the SA international relations stance on world conflict.
“We have also noted the call by Uaza, lobbying the SA government to sell ammunition to Poland, knowing that they will end up in Ukraine.”
Tau said there was a need to call out the Ukrainian refugees not to undermine the country’s heritage or symbols of historical significance as South Africans.
The MKP National Assembly MP and member of the party’s international relations and co-operation sub-committee, Wesley Marshall Douglas, said South Africa would not be arm twisted to support Ukraine. He labelled Uaza’s actions “vandalism”.
“What Uaza have done is vandalism and defacing of a national hero’s monument. It is not only utterly disrespectful but an affront to South Africa’s stance of neutrality on the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The MK Party will continue to call for a negotiated peace, and we will not allow our country to be arm-twisted to support Ukraine’s agenda,” Douglas said.
One of the participants noted: “Ukrainians have a saying: ‘You can’t come into someone else’s parish with your own rules’, Uaza is violating this wonderful principle by intruding with its rules into the peaceful life of South Africa.”
The Star
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