Statement of the African National Congress of South Africa Women's Secretariat on the occasion of the International Children's Day — June Ist, 1979 — International Year of the Child.
June 1st this year has special significance for the millions of children the world over. The declaration by the United Nations of 1979 as the Intentional Year of the Child has turned the focus of the world public on the present concerns and prospects of children the world over.
The placing of children on the top of the global agenda has prompted governments and individuals into action to secure the best for the future of mankind—children. Increased effort is being put into realising all the clauses set out in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924.
Contrary to what all concerned is doing to give to children all the happiness they deserve, the racist minority clique of Pretoria has come up with a tactic aimed at diverting attention from the plight of our children. Instead the regime is planning to "make people aware of health" throughout the year. They want to convince the world that the infant mortality rate, which ranges up to over 200 per 1000 amongst Africans will be reduced by the elite congresses that are being planned as part of the "celebrations". These will obviously do nothing to benefit African parents and their children.
A gross violation of all principles set out by the United Nations on the child is going on in our country. The regime continues to deny our child the very basic needs — including the right to live. The practical absence of pre and postnatal facilities particularly for African mothers is a deliberate move to speed up the process Of genocide against the indigenous majority.
The right to a decent education is completely rejected by the butchers of the South African children. The flame of outright rejection of Bantu Education, a system worked out to produce only slaves for the white South African economy, is still burning in our country. The demands for a free and compulsory education that are enshrined in the Freedom Charter — the democratic document outlining the aspirations of a free South Africa —are being reiterated by our youth and students throughout the country.
In a futile attempt to curb the anger of our people the Vorster-Botha clique has added cosmetic changes to Bantu Education in the form of changing the name into Department of Training and Education. We are not deceived. The content remains the same, and we shall continue to fight against this inferior hand-out until all children regardless of colour or creed, enjoy equal educational facilities.
The exploitation of the labour of our children has long been a cause for concern. This inhuman cruelty to our innocent children goes on without any legal prohibitions by the regime. No opportunities and facilities are given to enable the African child to enjoy the benefits of social security. The basic need for parental care, a precondition for the full development of the child, is substituted by merciless separation of infants from their mothers. The arbitrary forced removals of our people from one area to distant and unknown so-called "resettlement" areas have become a daily phenomenon in our country. Thousands of children are torn away from their parents.
The openly discriminatory and aggressive policies of the regime have instilled in our children a deep hatred for the regime. The active participation of our children in the demonstrations that have become a daily phenomenon in South Africa is not surprising. The policies of apartheid have created deep rooted hatred amongst people of different colour. The psychological effects of growing up in an atmosphere devoid of understanding, tolerance, friendship and brotherhood amongst peoples have resulted in children of 10 years of age and less moving into the streets to confront the enemy.
This justified rebellion against the enemy by our children has been met with the most violent reaction towards these unarmed fighters for peace. Thousands of children are butchered by unarmed police in the streets of our country. On the other hand an open violation of set international law against is a symbol of the struggle to save mankind. the imprisonment of children is taking place. Scores of our children, dozens of them below 10 years of age, are languishing in fascist dungeons.
The memory of the brutal execution of our young patriot and freedom fighter Solomon Mahlangu is still fresh in us. The joint struggle of all forces inside and outside the country to save his life is an example to be followed in future, with more vigour, to stop a recurrence.
It is in this grave situation that we call upon our women, South African mothers of all races, to pay special attention to our precious possession—children. Let us unite to fight for the preservation of the future of South Africa—our children. Surely a stop must be put to the waste of human resources by the regime. Concentrate all efforts in the common struggle to make South Africa a happier place for all children, regardless of race, colour, sex or creed. History will never pardon us if we actively or passively condone the genocide and total brutality conducted by the regime against our children whose only crime is that they were not born white.
Events inside the country are a clear indication of the unprecedented heights that our struggle has reached over the past few months. In all corners of our country units of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the revolutionary army of our movement, are sending the enemy running in fear. The recent attack of the Moroka police station by combatants of our movement are signs of the language of armed struggle we have decided to speak. We have been forced into this situation by the aggressive nature of the fascist minority Vorster-Botha clique.
We call upon our women's units in the external mission to intensify the struggle for the recognition of the plight of the South African child by the international community. Let the hundreds of children growing up under the extremely harsh conditions of exile celebrate June 1st, 1979 with renewed hope that they will soon secure a place to stay in their motherland.
These aspirations cannot be realised without the support of the international community. The child of every country is a symbol of the struggle to save mankind. The fight for the rights of the child in South Africa is inseparable from our struggle to save the world from the evils of apartheid —this crime against humanity.
We are particularly concerned and indignated by the continuing military and economic collaboration of the imperialist countries with the apartheid regime. Despite all resolutions made through the United Nations for the isolation of South Africa, the United States, Britain, France and West Germany continue to arm the butchers of our children. For the sake of preservation of the future generation we demand an observance of the rules set out by international opinion by these allies of the Pretoria fascists.
We call upon all concerned to support the struggle of the South African people, led by the ANC(SA). This will be your most effective contribution towards the struggle to save the children of South Africa. Join us in making these demands to the Vorster-Botha regime:
Long live our children, our precious possession. May there always be sunshine for all children in the Year of the Child and year of the Spear.
AMANDLA NGAWETHU!
MATLA KE A RONA!
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
SECHABA - August 1979