Children rally for peace

2003-02-18 15:32

Johannesburg - About 100 children braved the rain in Johannesburg on Tuesday to protest against a possible US-led war on Iraq.

"I am here to protest against (US President George W) Bush's war," said 10-year-old Mandela Chiya.

"We, the children, just felt it was time to voice out that we are also against the war and that war affects children more than adults."

The march, attended mostly by children aged between two and five, was organised by South African non-governmental groups opposed to the looming war on Iraq.

Mapulana Mtintso from the Gauteng Network on Violence Against Women, said the protesters were from pre-schools and disabled schools, east of Johannesburg.

The march started at Beyers Naude Square in central Johannesburg and proceeded for about two kilometres to the US Consul-General's office where a memorandum listing demands was handed over. The march then proceeded to the nearby Mary Fitzgerald Square where the children were picked up to be taken home.

Three-year-old twins, Angel and Sunshine Legodi, told Sapa in seSotho they were at the march to "sing for Bush to stop the war".

Zandile Mahlangu, who is nine-years-old, said she was opposed to the war because the Iraqi children would suffer severe casualties and their education would be disrupted.

She said the marchers were also opposed to the war because it would have a negative implication on the socio-economic situation in Iraq.

"We are opposed to the war because it will leave both Iraqi and American children orphaned," said three-year-old Noxolo Mafuke from Siphuxolo Pre-school.

She said in isiXhosa: "We are opposed to the war because it will leave both Iraqi and American children to live with its consequences for the rest of their lives."

Joyce Piliso Seroke, from the Commission of Gender Equality said: "We stand resolute in the belief that the US/UK threat of war against Iraq is not only unjustified, it is also immoral."

She called on all responsible parents to make their children aware about the immorality of war against Iraq saying children across the globe would be affected.

She asked all leaders to strengthen their noble efforts in convincing Bush to seek other alternatives to war.

Many of the children were not aware what the march was about, however, they sang along and chanted anti-war slogans.

- SAPA