Celebrating the defeat of apartheid

Vic Williams

In Western Australia, 240 people met in the State School 
Teachers' Union Hall to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 
South African election that defeated apartheid.

The Freedom Day Committee organised the rally and the finances to 
bring Raymond Suttner from South Africa as the key speaker. The 
Workers' Voices' choir opened with a number of songs including 
the International and a song of welcome written by a woman in the 
Noongar language, signifying the link between the South African 
and Aboriginal peoples.

Steve Rametse spoke with deep feeling for his people and their 
struggle to end 300 years of domination. He called on the 
audience to remember ANC leader Chris Hani and the other martyrs 
of the long struggle. He also called on the audience for 
solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Raymond Suttner, imprisoned for his anti-apartheid activism, 
called for a celebration of ten years of great achievement. The 
people are now free to say what they feel and think, he said. He 
recalled how the election ten years ago which ushered in the ANC 
government faced much violence.

Since then many have found life in the countryside has changed, 
including the provision of electricity, water services and health 
facilities. There has also been a big increase in pensions and 
new social organisations have developed.

Raymond welcomed the new constitution of South Africa as better 
than in most countries, to be used to ensure that the government 
carries out its promised programs.

Paul Kaplan, a tireless worker against apartheid, recalled how 
Raymond's visit in 1989 inspired marches and activities. He was 
greatly encouraged by the developments in the past ten years: how 
people's power and international support had crushed apartheid.