Join Week of Action to Protect Free Elections in South Africa
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I 198 Broadway * New York, N.Y. 10038 e (212) 962-1210 Tilden J.LeMelle, Chairman Jennifer Davis, Executive Director 7 10: Key Labor Contacts FRO) W: Mike Fleshman, Labor Desk Coordinator DAT E: January 28, 1994 Join Week of Action To Protect Free Elections In South Africa Friends, I urge you to join with other union, religious and community leaders in a National Countdown To Democacy Week of Action, February 7-14, to protect democratic elections in South Africa. As you know, after generations of resistance against apartheidracism, South Africa's Black majority has finally won the right to vote. The country's first ever non-racial election is now scheduled for April 27, and all polls say that Black support for Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress is overwhelming. The South African labor federation COSATU was instrumental in forcing the apartheid regime to accept democracy, and some two dozen labor leaders will be running for election with Mandela on the ANC ticket. But there is real danger that the apartheid government and its allies will steal the election through violence and fraud. In December two COSATU leaders on the ANC slate were attacked by ultra-rightists, who threatened further violence unless they withdraw their candidacies. Political violence took over 4300 lives in South Africa last year, an average of 12 per day, and the death toll so far this year is higher than even that appalling rate. With nearly 2.5 million Black voters without the necessary ID, the government department in charge-was caught burning stacks of completed application forms. The United States should be leading the international effort to protect this vital election. But to date Washington has been silent about government attacks on democracy activists and the effective banning of the ANC and COSATU in many areas. The national Week of Action will remind President Clinton and Congress that public support for South African freedom remains strong., organize a Countdown To Democracy event in your local to collect signatures on the enclosed petitions to President Clinton. The Labor Desk can provide you with a powerful 15-minute video containing Nelson Mandela's personal appeal for support for free elections. The Labor Desk can also provide you with South African Election-Watch buttons Establishedby The American Committee on Africa, 1966 * Contributions are tax.deductible and T-shirts, action alerts and updates on recent developments. A resource order form is enclosed. Hold a fundraiser for the labor candidates running for election. COSATU has established a special campaign fund for the union candidates. Your dollars help ensure that South African unionists have the resources they need to campaign effectively. The Labor Desk can provide you with information about how to send your funds directly to the union. Become an Election Watcher Join The Africa Fund Election Watch campaign. Receive regular updates on developments in South Africa, and action suggestions on ways your union can help Black South Africans end apartheid through genuinely free and fair elections. A membership form is included in this mailing. Labor Candidates on the ANC Slate Labor's candidates appear in the order of their national ranking on the 200-member national ANC candidates list, as follows: 6. Jay Naidoo -- former COSATU General Secretary 18. Moses; Mayekiso -- National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) 19. Chris Dlamini-- Food and Allied Workers Union, COSATU Vice President 41. Philip Dexter -- National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union 45. Alec Erwin -- former NUMSA Education Secretary, Economist 46. Gregory Rockman -- Police and Prison Civil Rights Union (NOT COSATU AFFILIATE) 50. Shepard Madladlana -- South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) [NOT COSATU AFFILIATE] 53. Randall van den Heever -- SADTU 56. Marcel Golding -- National Union of Mineworkers 76. Kgabisi Mosunkuntu -- Postal @ Telecommunications Workers Association 103. John Coplyn -- South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union 110. Duma Nkosi-- South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union 121. Nkosinathi Nhleko -- Transport and General Workers Union 145. Salie Manie -- South African Municipal Workers Union 151. Don Gumede -- Chemical Workers Industrial Union 171. Danny Oliphant -- NUMSA January 17, 1994 (100 days to go...) A Project of The Africa-Fund COUNTDOWN- TO DEMOCRACY SCHEDULE Among the activities planned for South Africa Election Watchers are the following: 80 days to go ... February 7-14 1994, Countdown to South African Democracy Week. During this week, we will collect thousands of petitions to be delivered to President Clinton urging that the U.S. speak out boldly and publicly against political violence to ensure that South Africa's first democratic election is truly free and fair. Many colleges are organizing teach-ins and distributing "Election." Watcher" buttons and T-shirts. 50 days to go..... March 8 1994, Shine a Light on Democracy Day. Many organizations and groups will hold candle-light vigils throughout the country. We will deliver , petitions to'Presldent Clinton.' 43 days to go. ..... March'1S-16 1994 will be a South African Election Watch Seminar on Capitol Hill for Members of Congress to beco-sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, Artists for a Free South Africa,"'and the Africa Fund. This will be an event at which we will brief Members of Congress and White House aides about the progress and problems in the election. We would demand that Congress urge State President F.W. de Klerk to protect the lives of all South Africans during the election. i0 days to go.... Let Freedom Reign Week, April 17-27. Many denominations, including the Baptists, the Lutherans and the Presbyterians, are organizing on-going prayer circles. There will be fasting and reflection on April 27 - election day. Several colleges are planning Countdown events on their 198 Broadway campuses. New York, NY 10038 Tel: 212.962.1210 April 27 1994 ....Election Day. Fax: 212.964.8579 January 17 (100 Days to Go...) DID YOU KNOW ..... The legacy of apartheid runs deep, creating many obstacles to achieving full electoral A Project of participation to create South Africa's new The Africa Fund democracy. Consider the following: --- 18 million people have never voted in an election before; they have no knowledge of voting laws or procedures. --- 9 million future voters - 50% of the new electorate - are illiterate, and many speak only their indigenous language. --- Independent, non-partisan information about registration*, voting procedures or even political parties is scarce or non-existent. --- A large percentage of the new electorate live in isolated rural areas; many others are transient with no permanent address under which to register*. --- A poor public transportation system, and the paucity of private transportation, may severely inhibit voters' actual access to polling places.. Increased incidences of violence in the country only exacerbate fear of voting among the electorate - especially those who are first-time voters. --- Perhaps most daunting is the legacy of apartheid's repression which has spawned massive disenfranchisement: unemployment, the near collapse of the education system for the majority of South African children, discrimination and exploitation of African women in the socio economic and political institutions, and extreme poverty and disease. This election is the first opportunity in generations for the vast majority of South Africans to participate in determining the future for themselves, their family and their community. (excerpted from the SAFE Fact Sheet prepared by the South Africa Free Elections Fund, New York.) * The negotiators in South Africa have since 198 Broadway decided that there will be no voter registration New York, NY 10038 for this election. However identity documents will Tel: 212.962.1210 still be required. Fax: 212.964.8579 SOUTH AFRICA ELECTION WATCHER PLEDGE FORM A Project of The Africa Fund YES, I agree to be a SOUTH AFRICA ELECTION WATCHER. I ;i work to keep people in my area informed on threats to a free and fair election in South Africa. Enclosed is a contribution toward costs. Signed_ MATERIALS Voting in the Shadow of Apartheid - Questions and Answers on the South African E e'-on by Elizabeth Landis. 4 pages. Price: 35 cents each. Over twenty, 20 cents each. _The Struggle Continues: South African Women and the Vote by Rachel Kagen and Lisa Lippman. 4 pages. Price: 35 cents each. Over twenty, 20 cents each. South Africa Election Watch T-SHIRT. Three colors. Includes the Free the Vote logo on this letterhead. (Extra Large only.) A great way to show your support for free and fair elections. $15.00. South Africa Election Watch BUTTON. Three colors. Includes the Free the Vote logo ont-is letterhead. Price: $1.00. A PersonalAppeal by Nelson Mandela VIDEO. 14 minutes. ANC President Nelson Mandela makes a personal appeal to the international community to support the elections in South Africa. Price: $10.00. Please indicate the quantity desired on the line before item. Add 15 % postage and handling. (Foreign postage extra.) Enclose is $ towards costs of being a South Africa Election Watcher. $10.00 $20.00 Other $ _ for materials marked above, including 15% for postage. $ ; Total enclosed. Name Address Organization City State Zip. 198 Bmalway Phone home: __wwork: U-__ New York, NY 10038 FaxL- Tel: 212.962.1210 Fax: 212.964.8579 ACT NOW FOR FREEDOM! BECOME A SOUTH AFRICA ELECTION WATCHER After 300 years of racist rule, South Africa's Black majority has finally won the right to vote. On April 27, tens of millions of Black people will be eligible to cast their ballots in the country's first ever non-racial election -- elections to end apartheid forever. But will the vote be free and fair? Powerful forces, including the apartheid government, rightwing terrorist groups and Black collaborators with the old order have targeted the democratic movement, led by Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, for violence.