

Apartheid Museum Johannesburg, South Africa

The 9th Annual Israeli Apartheid Week 2013 campaign launched in South Africa today with a press conference at the symbolic Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Many South African leaders are participating (including leaders of the African National Congress, the South African Trade Unions, and the South African Council of Churches). The Coalition for a Free Palestine and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, National Spokesperson for Israeli Apartheid Week South Africa Team (IAW South Africa Team) sent out this invitation:



Israel Apartheid Week 2013 poster

At Sunday’s “Israeli Apartheid Week” (IAW) launch press conference, messages of support will be delivered by organizational representatives (who all form members of the “IAW South Africa Team”, the national body coordinating “Israeli Apartheid Week” in South Africa). Furthermore, the national programme of IAW events, actions and activities for next week’s “Israeli Apartheid Week” (IAW) campaign will officially be released and made public. Finally, the press conference will also announce five key South African “Israeli Apartheid Week” (IAW) events which include the hosting of Dr Blade Nzimande (General Secretary, South African Communist Party) in Orange Farm, Baleka Mbete (National Chairperson, ANC) in Johannesburg, Ronald Lamola (President, ANC Youth League) in Tshwane, Ahmed Kathrada (Former Rivonia Trialist) in Port Elizabeth and the visiting Palestinian writer, Susan Abulhawa (author of the acclaimed novel “Mornings in Jenin”) at the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria.

Launch of “Israeli Apartheid Week” Press Conference

Day: Sunday, 10 March 2013

Time: 11:00

Venue: Apartheid Museum (Corner Northern Parkway and Gold Reef Road, Ormonde, Johannesburg)

Press Conference Speakers Include

– Ronald Lamola

(President of the African National Congress Youth League)

– Buti Manamela

(National Secretary of the Young Communist League)

– Ngoako Selamolela

(President of the South African Students Congress)

– Themba Masondo

(Secretary General of South African Students Congress)

– Tebogo Thothela

(Deputy President of the South African Union of Students)

– Tasneem Essop

(Wits University Student Representative Council)

– Solly Afrika Mapaila

(Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party)

– Steve Faulkner

(International Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers Union)

– Alan Horwitz

(National Chairperson of StoptheJNF)

– Reverend Mautji Pataki

(General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches)

– Reverend Mxolisi Sonti

(General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches Youth Forum)

– Braam Haanekom

(Director of People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty)

– Dr Stiaan Van Der Merwe

(Spokesperson for Kairos Southern Africa)

– Zwelinzima Vavi (TBC)

(General Secretary of COSATU)

– S’dumo Dlamini (TBC)

(President of COSATU)

Next week between the 11th and 17 of March, South Africa will host the 9th international Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) campaign that takes places annually during February and March around the globe in over 250 cities. Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events (including rallies, lectures, cultural performances, music shows, films and workshops) that seek to raise awareness of Israel’s apartheid policies toward the indigenous Palestinians and garner support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign which is aimed to bring an end to Israel’s apartheid policies and violations of international law.



Graphic: Coalition For a Free Palestine (South Africa)

THE “ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK SOUTH AFRICA TEAM” IS MADE UP OF 50 MEMBERS ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA. ENDORSEMENTS AND PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE:

African National Congress Youth League (ANC YL), Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa (BDS South Africa), Caring Women’s Forum (CWF), Centre for Civil Society (CCS), Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU), Coalition for a Free Palestine (CFP), Communication Workers Union (CWU), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Friends of Cuba (Western Cape), Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA), Kairos Southern Africa, Media Review Network (MRN), Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), Muslim Womens Forum (MWF), National Education, Health and Allied Worker Union (NEgayHAWU), National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (NUMSA), Open Shuhada Street (OSS), Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), PalS, People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP), South African Artists Against Apartheid (SA AAA), South African Communist Party (SACP), South African Council of Churches (SACC), South African Council of Churches Youth Forum, South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), South African Students Congress (SASCO), South African Union of Students (SAUS), StopTheJnf, Union of Muslim Students Association (MSA), University of Pretoria Student Representative Council (UP SRC), Wits University Student Representative Council (Wits SRC), Wits University Writing Centre, Young Communist League of South Africa (YCL), Zaytoun South Africa

