By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Solly Mapaila says the party will march to the US Embassy on January 8 to protest against the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Mapaila was speaking at the 31st annual Joe Slovo commemoration at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto.
Slovo who had served as commander of Umkhonto weSizwe, the ANC’s armed wing, during the struggle against apartheid, and was a housing minister in democratic South Africa, died on 6 January, 1995.
He was praised as an internationalist who fought not only for South Africa’s liberation but also for oppressed communities across Africa and the world.
He said, this protest is intended to show solidarity with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both of whom are embroiled in serious legal challenges in the United States, including charges of narco-terrorism, drugs, and weapons offences.
Mapaila has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Venezuelan leader, stressing the importance of standing against what they perceive as imperialist actions from the US.
“We are organising a march to the US embassy on Thursday. All the alliance components, everyone in South Africa is invited. The US should never know peace in our country when they destabilise other countries.”
This widespread condemnation has also been shared by world leaders, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has declared the US detention illegal and a clear undermining of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Venezuela.
Delivering message of support, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa said the party would continue its support for international countries just as the late anti-apartheid activist and communist leader, Slovo had done in his time.
“He did not only fight for the liberation of the people of South Africa, but for the people of our continent and for people across the world,” Ramaphosa said.
He said the party’s international work continues to reflect Slovo’s principles. “It is this principle that continues to guide our international work, inspired by the views, the principles and the positions that comrade Joe Slovo took.”
Ramaphosa said the party’s support for Venezuela reflects South Africa’s broader commitment to self-determination, alongside solidarity with the people of Palestine, Western Sahara, and Cuba.
The United States conducted a large-scale military strike against Venezuela and captured president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were flown out of the country on January 3.