WFTU On the International Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela was born in a small South African village on July 18th, 1918. From here he would go on to become one of
the most admired leaders in history.
During the South African struggle, it was him together and thousands of other known and anonymous fights who struggled
with persistence, self-sacrifice and determination to end the racist, inhuman apartheid regime and bring freedom and
prosperity to the South African people.
Even being imprisoned that did not stop him. During the difficult times of his imprisonment, the WFTU is proud to have
launched and promoted an International Campaign for his freedom as one of the hundreds ways the international
class-oriented trade union movement chose to express its practical solidarity to the South African Liberation Struggle.
Today in his critical moments, once more we are joining our thoughts with the South African people.
Nelson Mandela is the icon of peace and reconciliation against the hatred spilled by the exploiters.
No one says it better than the man himself:
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People
must learn to hate. And if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the
human heart than its opposite”.
We are positive that he has contributed significantly in educating and forming a South African working class, which will
continue and advance the struggles of the past generations for the complete emancipation of the South African people
from the tyranny of exploitation.
ENDS