AWB re-grouping condemned

2009-10-12 20:01

Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in North West on Monday "strongly" condemned the re-grouping of the right-wing group Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB).

"The Republic of South Africa belongs to all of us, not the few of the AWB and what belongs to them is only their families," said provincial secretary Solly Phetoe in a statement.

Phetoe called on the AWB to address the issue of "white farmers who shoot, assault and exploit farm workers".

He said the AWB gathering of about 300 people to "unite and claim what belongs to us" in Ventersdorp at the weekend was a waste of time.

"South Africa is a democratic country, it belongs to all who live in it, not to a few white farmers who gathered on Saturday at Ventersdorp."

Cosatu called on the police to investigate the "big picture" behind the re-launching of the AWB.

Uniting right-wing organisations

AWB leader Eugene Terre'Blanche was quoted in the Mail & Guardian as saying he wanted to unite 23 right-wing organisations under one umbrella to take the fight of "the free Afrikaner" to the International Court of Justice in Hague.

He said he had been inundated with calls to reactivate his movement.

"The circumstances in the country demanded it. The white man in South Africa is realising that his salvation lies in self-government in territories paid for by his ancestors."

But taking up arms to secure its own republic was not an option.

"For now there are other options we have to exercise first. We have a strong case to take to the United Nations," said Terre'Blanche.

He cited a list of land deals between the Voortrekkers and "black kings" in the 18th Century.
 

- SAPA