Atlanta - Veteran American civil rights movement activist, Andrew Young, is planning a visit to South Africa to witness what has been achieved since the dawn of democracy in 1994.
The first African-American ambassador to the UN, told this to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi during her visit to Atlanta last week as she led a South African delegation to South Africa’s Lifestyle Hub Show.
The 83-year-old politician also shares with the South African delegation his bitter memories of the apartheid regime when he visited the country in the 1970s. He met struggle stalwarts such as OR Tambo, Chief Albert Luthuli and Robert Sobukwe.
“It was so painful how the majority [black South Africans] were treated in their own country and I told those who were in power at the time that one day this country will be ruled by the black people that you hate so much and they never believed me; they thought I was dreaming.”
He said while America might be lecturing South Africa on how it governs, it still had many challenges when it comes to the issue of race issue and South Africa remains an inspiration.
“So next year in March, I am bringing my delegation to South Africa, where we will witness how the country has been transformed since 1994, again for my delegation to hear it from South Africans how they have suffered under the apartheid regime and how they are moving their country forward working together as a rainbow nation,” he said.
Young will also use the visit to celebrate his 84th birthday as well as his 19th anniversary with his wife Carolyn McClain whom he married in 1996 in Cape Town.
He said after the mother of his four children died of cancer in 1994, Jean Childs, it was Adelaide Tambo who persuaded him to get married.
According to Young, one way of maintaining security and stability in the world is through being aggressively non-violent.
“I don’t know how the situation in South Africa is, but if the majority have not seen enough progress, the reality is they are not going to be mad against white people, but they will be mad to those who are in power.
“We have to find ways to make sure that there are jobs and create opportunities for all small businesses, that’s the number one crisis in the world,” said veteran activist.
One way of ending terrorism is to grow the economy. “Remember, when people are unemployed, they form ISIS, Boko Haram and al-Shabaab. I am saying the answer to terrorism and war is finding the way to grow the economy and I had a very strong view that the future of the planet is in Africa,” he said.
Minister Muthambi said the planned visit by Young and his delegation was an indication that South Africa belongs to all who live in it as dictated by the Freedom Charter.
“As government, we strongly believe that his visit will help to dispel the myth that non-South Africans are not welcomed in our country.
“Guided by our Freedom Charter, we don’t take advantage of those who visit our country by ill-treating them, but we warmly welcome them to live with us because we are a peace-loving rainbow nation, so remember during the apartheid era most of South Africans were foreigners not only in Africa, but across the world,” she said.
Minister Muthambi said the timing of the planned visit would coincide with the month where South Africans gather across the country on Human Rights Day, 21 March, to commemorate the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.
“In March every year as government we promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their race, gender, creed, sexual orientation and cultural systems.
“We use the whole month to emphasise our commitment as government that commitment every person who resides in South Africa enjoys equal rights,” she said.
The day exposes the apartheid government’s deliberate violation of human rights to the world, following the brutal killing of 69 people, while 180 more sustained injuries when police fired shots on a peaceful crowd that had gathered to protest against the pass laws in Sharpeville.
Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Elizabeth Thabethe said Young will forever be a friend to South Africa because the freedom that was attained, it was attained through the contributions of African-Americans like him.
“Nobody will take those memories from us,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
