The Presidency has dismissed trade union Solidarity’s campaign to protest the ANC government’s “racial” policies as “the work of a tiny right-wing minority” as South Africa prepares to host the G20 Leader’s Summit this month.
By yesterday large-scale billboards and banners with “Welcome to the most race-regulated country in the world’ appeared on some of Johannesburg’s main roads, with Solidarity saying their campaign is designed to coincide with the high-profile summit, aiming to leverage the global spotlight on South Africa to highlight issues of racial injustice, economic decline, and governance failures.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, dismissed Solidarity’s actions as the work of a “tiny right-wing minority” and described the campaign as “unimportant and mindless”.
However, Solidarity remains steadfast in its determination to draw international attention to what it labels the country’s “race madness”.
It said it would also directly engage with the embassies of G20 countries.
Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), responded to Magwenya’s comments, stating, “Unfortunately, this is necessary.
“The eyes of the world are currently on South Africa and the South African government, whose actions are increasingly under suspicion worldwide.”
The Solidarity campaign is structured around several key actions:
- Documentary Launch: A documentary titled RACE to the bottom is set to be launched and screened at a cinema in the Menlyn Shopping Centre in Pretoria on November 10. This film is expected to delve into the impact of the government’s racial policies.
- Billboard Campaign: A series of prominent billboards are being placed on main routes leading to the G20 Summit. These billboards are designed to visually depict what Solidarity terms the “SA government’s race madness,” ensuring that attendees and observers of the summit are confronted with the union’s message.
- International Engagement: Solidarity plans follow-up actions on memorandums previously submitted to embassies of G20 member countries. These memorandums call for South Africa to be held accountable for its alleged violations of UN racial conventions, with a planned visit to Europe to further these efforts.
Mulder emphasised the timing of the campaign, stating, “The G20 summit is here, and cosmetic resurfacing of Gauteng’s main routes is not going to cover up the bigger cracks in our society. In addition to the municipal decline, there is still corruption, unemployment and poverty, and of course the fact that South Africa is the most racially regulated country in the world.”
The union’s actions particularly focus on racial injustice, which they argue significantly impacts the labour market and contributes to the country’s economic woes.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengu Bhengu did not respond to questions on Monday.
Political analysts suggest that Solidarity’s campaign, while condemned by the government, strategically uses the G20 Summit to amplify its message on an international stage.
“Hosting the G20 presents both an opportunity and a risk for the host nation,” said Dr. Sipho Dlamini.
“On one hand, it’s a chance to showcase economic progress and stability. On the other, it provides a platform for dissenting voices to garner international attention, which is precisely what Solidarity is doing.”
Dlamini said that government’s reaction can be a double-edged sword.
“While it’s meant to delegitimise Solidarity, it also inadvertently draws more attention to their claims. By calling them ‘unimportant,’ the government risks making them seem more significant to an international audience seeking to understand the complexities of South African society.”
Economist Professor Linda Nxumalo added that the campaign’s focus on the economic impact of racial policies resonates with broader concerns.
“Regardless of political affiliation, the issues of unemployment, poverty, and corruption are undeniable. If racial regulations are perceived to be exacerbating these problems, then it becomes a serious point of discussion, especially when foreign investors and trading partners are observing.”
