Sinn Fein News, October 28, 2005
Solidarity and support - Gerry Adams in South Africa
by Richard McAuley
Dr Wally Mongane Serote, CEO of the Freedom Park and one of South Africa's best known writers and poets,
in his introductory remarks at the entrance to the shrine told Gerry: "The Isivivane which you will see
in a few moments, honours past heroes and heroines who laid their lives down so that could all enjoy the
freedom we have today. After you have laid your wreath at the international boulder you will have honoured
Ireland's fallen heroes and heroines forever."
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams spent four days in South Africa last week. He
was accompanied by party colleague Richard McAuley and Daily Ireland
reporter Jarlath Kearney. Richard McAuley reports on this historic visit.
Laying a wreath and lighting some grass and incense — the 'impepho' — in
memory of all of those in South Africa and Ireland who have given their
lives in pursuit of freedom was a poignant start to what was a busy but
productive visit by Gerry Adams to South Africa.
The Sinn Féin President arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday where he was
greeted at the airport at the start of his official visit by the Minister of
Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils and Police Commissioner Robert McBride. From
there it was on to Freedom Park on Salvokop Hill in Pretoria, a world-class
heritage centre, still under construction, intended to express South
Africa's pride in its past, incorporating a national monument, state of the
art interactive museum and memorial gardens.
The Isivivane is the symbolic resting place for all those who died in the
struggle for a free South Africa. Inside is a circle of eleven boulders, one
for each of South Africa's nine provinces, one representing the national
community and one the international community.
Dr Wally Mongane Serote, CEO of the Freedom Park and one of South Africa's
best known writers and poets, in his introductory remarks at the entrance to
the shrine told Gerry: "The Isivivane which you will see in a few moments,
honours past heroes and heroines who laid their lives down so that could all
enjoy the freedom we have today. After you have laid your wreath at the
international boulder you will have honoured Ireland's fallen heroes and
heroines forever."
After holding an 'ukuphahlia' or conversation with the ancestors Gerry laid
his wreath. Speaking to the assembled guests and dignitaries he said: "South
Africa has lit a beacon for freedom loving people throughout the world and
the work that you have done here at Freedom Park isn't just about
commemorating the past. It is also about the future and hopefully people
across the world uniting in our diversity around the ideals of freedom and
equality and justice."
After a reception at Freedom Park it was off to the residence of the Irish
Ambassador Gerry Corr for a brief, private discussion with the Commissioner
of the South African Revenue Service Pravin Gordhan before a meeting with
representatives of the Irish religious community working in South Africa.
These included Fr Barney McAleer from Tyrone and Fr Kiaran Creagh from North
Belfast. The lunch concluded with Fr Barney giving a rousing rendition of
The Mountains of Pomeroy.
From there it was another long car journey in the blazing summer sun back to
Johannesburg and a meeting in Luthuli House, ANC headquarters, with a
delegation of ANC National Executive members. Gerry took the opportunity to
thank the ANC again for all their help and solidarity over the years.
At the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria Gerry met Foreign Minister
Dlamini Zuma. The two held a lengthy private meeting before a joint press
conference. Afterward Dr Zuma made clear South Africa's willingness to
assist the search for a just peace in Ireland.
Wednesday morning opened with Gerry's first-ever official visit to the
Headquarters of a State Intelligence Agency where he again met with Ronnie
Kasrils. They discussed how South Africa's contribution to the Irish Peace
Process could continue. TV and radio interviews followed before a return to
Pretoria for the most important meeting of the official visit with South
African President Thabo Mbeki at Union Buildings.
Gerry presented President Mbeki with a bog oak carving of Cúchulainn along
with several GAA jerseys, including signed jerseys by the Tyrone Senior and
Down Minor football teams. Speaking afterwards to the media in the open
square inside Union Buildings President Mbeki said that the IRA's recent
initiative "opens the way for the full implementation of the Good Friday
Agreement". He added: "It is our hope that this historic step taken by the
IRA is a strategic contribution to opening the way to the re-establishment
of the government."
Remarking on the difficulties presented by a process of change and on the
South African experience President Mbeki said: "We might find that the
unionists are afraid of what they might lose by this change, having been
accustomed to particular things. Take the experience of this country. It was
the same experience. The white minority were afraid of change in case they
might lose something but now we find eleven years after they are all saying
that wheat we feared we would lose we did not lose. We are happier. We are
freer. We are more secure. We are richer. There's no sense of someone coming
to stab us behind our backs. I think that if we move the Peace Process in
Ireland forward people of this point of view will discover that that future
is indeed a much better one for everyone." He added: "It is the
responsibility of everyone to move" and "it can be done it must be done".
Expressing gratitude to the President and the South African Government,
Gerry Adams said republicans in Ireland want what South Africans already
have — "freedom, a rights-based society and we want especially for the
people of our small island to live together in peace and in harmony".
On Thursday in Capetown Gerry was given a very warm reception at a joint
session of Parliament. He took the opportunity to raise matters of global
concern, as well as to brief politicians on the Peace Process. He called for
"a united nations which can assert an agenda which reflects the true needs
and interests of the peoples of the world".
The final day involved travelling to the Love of Christ Ministries which
runs a hostel for abandoned babies, some suffering from HIV/Aids. It was an
emotional and uplifting experience. A team of volunteer workers from around
the world help look after the children. It is a mammoth undertaking which
also includes the running of a small school. Speaking afterwards Gerry Adams
praised the dedication of Fr Barney McAleer and all involved in this project.