GALLERY: UN day observed in Pretoria
VIDEO: “We want a downgrade of the South African embassy in Israel.”
The 40th United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is to be observed on Wednesday.
On 29 November in 1947, the Assembly of the UN adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine.
ALSO READ: The future generation of the United Nations
To commemorate the day, the Gauteng structures of several organisations came together in a picket in Pretoria on Tuesday.
These included the Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA), the Congress of SA Trade Unions, SA Jews for a Free Palestine and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu).
Deputy convener of the YCLSA picket, Rashaad Yusuf Dadoo, said the event was organised to show support for the people of Palestine.
“As concerned South Africans, civil society organisations and political organisations decided to have this demonstration to raise awareness on the ongoing human rights violations in Israel,” said Dadoo.
ALSO READ: On this day in history: World Press Freedom Day was declared
“We want to further send a message to Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) to tell them to take a consolidated and firm stance when it comes to Israeli apartheid.”
Dadoo said the ultimate goal was to downgrade the embassy in Israel to that of a liaison office from a full diplomatic office.
He said one could not have normal relations with an abnormal state.
“Means to do that would be with help from DIRCO and ruling party. It is to actually say we are going to downgrade our embassy in Palestine until Israel abides by their internal law.”
Nehawu branch secretary Bakang Autikile said there were issues within Dirco that needed to be attended to.
These included corruption, nepotism and deployment abroad which only benefited a few people.
He said there had to be change that would benefit workers and curb corruption crippling the way the department was functioning.
“Communication between management and the workers is poor,” said Autikile.
ALSO READ: World Population Day: 5 Things you need to know
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
