‘White Supremacy’: SA Anti-Apartheid Activist on Ukrainian Flag Rally at Mandela Monument
15:53 15.09.2024 (Updated: 13:42 16.09.2024)
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On August 23, to mark Ukrainian Flag Day, the Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA) wrapped Nelson Mandela’s monument in Cape Town in yellow and blue fabric, which caused a controversial reaction.
The Ukrainian NGO UAZA's use of the historic site to rally support for Ukraine was met with sharp criticism from ANC stalwart and anti-apartheid activist Lindiwe Sisulu, who described the event as "desperate, reprehensible, and an insult to the memory of her uncle Nelson Mandela," according to the Sisulu Foundation for Social Justice statement seen by Sputnik Africa.
Sisulu condemned the action as a grave disrespect to a symbol of African unity and freedom. In a fiery statement, she highlighted the stark contrast between the Ukrainians' actions and Mandela’s philosophy of justice and dignity.
“It was with great horror that I learned that in South Africa someone had allowed Ukrainian nationalists to mount the very spot from which Madiba [Mandela's nickname] gave his first official speech after being released from decades of incarceration, to practically desecrate that sacred memory for Africans and all supporters of freedom and justice,” she said.
For Sisulu, the incident is not just a symbolic affront but a cynical attempt to manipulate African sentiment in favor of NATO's agenda in Ukraine—a cause Africans have largely rejected.
Sisulu did not mince words, calling the act "performative white supremacy" and urging those responsible to look to Russia’s historical respect for Africa if they seek a positive role on the continent. She pointed to the increasing frequency of such acts, from Cape Town to Nairobi, as part of a broader neocolonial push by Western powers.
Sisulu emphasized the need for Pan-African resistance to foreign interference.
“Such attacks are becoming more frequent […] underscoring the importance of a Pan-African resistance to the aggressive use of neocolonial symbolism to bully African countries into acting against our own interests and against our historical friends and allies,” the statement concluded.
@sputnik.africa South African anti-apartheid activist, Lindiwe Sisulu, described the Ukrainian NGO Uaza's rally at Mandela monument in Cape Town as "desperate, reprehensible, and an insult to the memory of her uncle Nelson Mandela." #southafrica #ukraine #mandela #capetown #africa #africantiktok #tiktokafrica #southafricatiktok #tiktoksa ♬ Remember - ARTBAT
