FEDUSA Calls for Unity on Africa Day

25 May 2018

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has called unity and tolerance on this day when the peoples of the African continent celebrate Africa Day to mark this day, 54 years ago on 25 May 1963 when the Organization of African or OAU, the forerunner of African Unity was founded in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital to fight for the total liberation of Africa from Europe.

Of the founding countries of the OAU, only Ethiopia and Liberia had never been colonised while Ghana and few others had just been liberated. Southern Africa in its totality was still chafing under the yoke of colonialism.

FEDUSA calls for freedom for Western Sahara, which is the last colony in Africa.

Fellow Africans and the world recognise that there is still an African colony to decolonize, that the era of colonialism/neo-colonialism and foreign exploitation of African resources still continues in Western Sahara and should be brought to an end in a joint effort by Saharawi’s, the international activist community and human rights organisations the world over. FEDUSA supports the official launch of #StandInTheSand campaign is accomplished from the Saharawi refugee camps by trade unions, NGOs and councils.

Although most of the 54 African countries except Western Sahara have since gained political independence, most are ravaged by internal wars and trapped in economic underdevelopment because of a lack of dynamic political leadership.

However that depressing state of affairs notwithstanding, Africa Day is marked throughout the continent as a day of renewal with a number of African countries including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Zambia, Mali, and Zambia setting the day aside as an official public holiday.

During her tenure as the Chairperson of the AU Commission, the first woman to ever occupy that chair, South African political leader Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma championed the empowerment of African women and the African girl child. FEDUSA hopes her successors will continue the good work and wishes the peoples of Africa, a very happy Africa Day.

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( 231 Words)

FEDUSA is the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa and represents a diverse membership from a variety of sectors in industry.  See www.fedusa.org.za for more information.

For interviews please contact:

Dennis George

FEDUSA General Secretary

Cell: 084 805 1529

Issued by:

Frank Nxumalo

FEDUSA Media and Research Officer

Cell: 072 637 8096