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'This is just the beginning': Cape Town’s activists rally against US imperialism "They tried many years ago to assassinate Chris Hani, but we say 'Long live Chris Hani'," Chikte told the crowd. "Long live the militancy and radicalism of Chris Hani and the anti-imperialist stand he took.” Chikte drew parallels between Hani’s assassination and that of other global political figures, framing the protest as part of a broader struggle against what organisers called global oppression. Among the speakers was Ronnie Kasrils, anti-apartheid Struggle veteran and former Intelligence minister, who described the protest as the start of sustained nationwide action. "This marks the beginning of a sustained mass action across our country. We will not stop until America and Israel cease their war on the people of Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon." Kasrils said the movement would intensify in the coming weeks. "This is just the beginning. We are taking this struggle to every corner of South Africa," he said. He also took direct aim at the US leadership, adding: "We are here to tell Trump and his allies that we will not be silent in the face of war mongering and the bombing of innocent people." Kasrils accused the US and Israel of escalating global conflict, referring to them as "war mongers". Recent developments have seen intensifying airstrikes, civilian casualties, and mounting fears of regional destabilisation, particularly as fighting spreads to Lebanon and threatens key global oil routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, has been disrupted, contributing to rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty worldwide, including in South Africa. The protest also featured messages aligned with international labour movements. While the World Federation of Trade Unions has consistently called for global solidarity against war and economic exploitation, it (the federation) has also broadly supported anti-war mobilisation and criticised Western military intervention. Speakers further linked global conflicts to African realities, alleging that foreign intervention contributes to instability and resource exploitation in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. Academic Ighsaan Taliep addressed the crowd, calling for collective resistance. "We are here to register our collective outrage at US imperialism and Israeli settler colonialism," he said. "We believe that people have the power to bring down oppressive regimes." Political backing for the protest came from a range of parties, including the ANC, EFF, Al Jama-ah, GOOD Party, and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. ANC Western Cape leader Khalid Sayed also reflected on Hani’s legacy, describing him as a symbol of resistance. "One of the first onslaughts on our sovereignty came as we entered democracy, and this continues today," Sayed said. "The US consulate continues to undermine our sovereignty." Trade union federation Cosatu was represented by Melvyn Bruyn, who echoed calls for peace. "We are here once again to tell the US government to stop the war that is killing innocent women and children daily. We are calling for a ceasefire," he said. Organisers said the anti-imperialist coalition, formed earlier this year, plans to continue rolling protest action in the coming weeks as part of a sustained campaign. https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-04-10-this-is-just-the-beginning-cape-towns-activists-rally-against-us-imperialism/? Back |
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