On May day in South Africa, a large crowd of African National Congress (ANC) supporters participated in a solidarity march in favour of Palestine.
They gathered at the Athlone Stadium for a rally organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
Speaking to the large crowd, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa has stood against oppression in any part of the world stating his support for the people of Palestine.
“You as workers, need to join this fight to fight for those who are oppressed around the world. And today as South Africa, we have stood up for the rights of those in other parts of the world (who) are currently being subjected to torture, violence and genocide.
“And that is why as a country and yes, as an alliance, we have stood firm in our support for the people of Palestine. And that is why we say ‘we want Palestine to be free’.”
Joining the cause, Zingiswa Losi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions told the crowds that the government has their support stating that South Africans are not free unless Palestinians are free.
The ANC and many South Africans have long compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to the treatment of non-whites during Apartheid in South Africa.