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S. African Trade Union Welcomes Anti-Racism Declaration
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) on Friday welcomed a declaration by white South Africans acknowledging the damage that apartheid had caused to black people.
"This initiative must be supported by all democratic forces for it clearly recognizes that whites as a group benefited from apartheid," COSATU said in a statement.
"Any other approach is denial, hypocrisy and misleading to the general public," the statement said.
A group of South African whites, including Constitutional Court Judge Richard Goldstone and Dutch Reformed Church rebel cleric Beyers Naude, signed the "Declaration of Commitment by White South Africans" earlier this week, denouncing apartheid and urging all whites to commit themselves to helping improve the lives of black people.
The group will launch the "Home for All" campaign with some ruling African National Congress members on Saturday, which is South Africa's Reconciliation Day,
However, COSATU said although it supported the declaration, it did not think that the declaration adequately addresses the legacy of apartheid on its own, adding that South Africa needs to find ways to mobilize resources for development.
It added that although South Africa has become a democracy since 1994, the country is still facing poverty and inequality.
"In order to break the cycle of poverty and inequality, there is a need for concrete steps and measures to create employment, raise incomes and improve living standards," COSATU added.
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