Khulumani looks forward to relationships of solidarity in the continuing struggle in the region.
READ THE REPORT By Ms Angela Tembo:
The South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS) was launched on Tuesday 8 November 2011 at the University of Johannesburg Council Chambers. Speaking at the launch, Gino Govender, a veteran civil society and trade union activist said SAFIS seeks to “rekindle civil society debate/dialogue around political, social and economic democracy globally”.
Following the mass mobilization of people early in the year in North Africa and the Middle East, there is a common goal among people to fight political, economic and social injustices. Thus SAFIS was born with idea of “building a broad, inclusive and united platform to learn, share, engage and mobilise human solidarity in order to achieve greater impact”.
With South Africa’s growing political influence in the AU, SADC, G20, United Nations Security Council the Country is well situated to reciprocate the solidarity it received during the apartheid era through SAFIS.
Following the thematic breakout sessions, new ideas on taking SAFIS forward were raised. These ideas will be consolidated in the final draft declaration and will be distributed to all delegates.
One of SAFIS’s aims is to “seek to recall and reclaim the dignified history of struggle against injustice represented by the overcoming of Apartheid”. As Khulumani, we welcome this solidarity as we continue our quest to turn victims into victors.
