The Royal Norwegian Embassy has partnered with the Apartheid Museum to showcase the historical bonds between SA and Norway.
Had it not been for the Nordic countries, we wouldn’t be where we are today—they clothed, fed, and cared for our health and education.
That’s how ANC Veterans League member and former South African Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ribbon Mosholi, described the role played by Norway and other Scandinavian nations in supporting the anti-apartheid and colonialism struggle in South Africa and former Frontline States.
Norway’s immense contribution to South Africa to realise its freedom and democracy was acknowledged by Mosholi and Veterans’ League deputy president, Mavuso Msimang on Saturday, both key speakers at the launch of an exhibition titled African Independence Norwegian Solidarity held at the Apartheid Museum on Saturday.
A sixty-year partnership
The exhibition, which would run until the end of June, was organised by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in partnership with the Apartheid Museum.
Mosholi said the US began to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa only in the 80s, despite the sanctions movement having started in the 60s after the Sharpeville massacre.
However, Norway was consistent and committed to the cause of South African black liberation.
She said that although Norway did not support the armed struggle by the ANC, it went all out to give all kinds of assistance, and as the ANC they knew they could count on Scandinavians.
Norway and other countries used to send clothes in bundles, as well as education and healthcare materials, and other forms of assistance to the ANC members in exile.
“All these materials were paid for individually and collectively by the Scandinavian countries. We appreciate that,” she said.
Mosholi said while the anti-apartheid struggle in the US was only supported by the people and civil society organisations and not the government, Norway’s support was initiated from the top down as part of the law.
The Norwegian people complemented the government support with protests, marches and other forms to put pressure on South Africa to end apartheid.
International relations
At the time the white South Africa and Israel that were founded on the same year in 1948, continued to be outposts of the Western colonialism with the backing of the USA.
Msimang said it was quite strange that Donald Trump would unilaterally impose trade sanctions and withdraw aid from country without the US constitution keeping him in check to account for it.
“The time in which we are have been thrown into some kind of turmoil by the arrival on the scene of people like Donald Trump, he has thrown out the book on diplomacy and proceeded in the manner that he personally would like to,” he said.
“But in the world of geopolitics, it’s important for South Africa to take a position based on its values which are enshrined in the Freedom Charter, in the Constitution which was born of the Freedom Charter.
“I don’t think we should be deterred, but we should be guided by our foreign policy. We should proceed to do whatever we do guided by our values.
“This is moment when, taking cognisance of where you are, what your strengths are, not your bravado or impressing people.
“The real crisis in the country is that the 1994 political dividend has not yet been paid. Our crisis is when our people continue to see that actually poverty is increasing,” Msimang continued.
Norway and Nelson Mandela
Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa Gjermund Saether, recalled how Norway’s support to the struggle in South Africa gathered pace from 1960 from the time when then-ANC president Albert Luthuli received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 and the Sharpeville massacre that shocked the Norwegians happened.
Oslo’s support also intensified in favour of the struggles in Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia from the 60s right up to the 80s, culminating in their respective independence.
Saether said colonialism in Africa reflected the “might is right” attitude that Norway experienced from the European big powers, which also impacted its foreign policy.
Since Nelson Mandela’s speech during a visit to Norway in 1998 , South Africa would always remember Norway’s example of extending to the whole world the values of a caring society and pledged a commitment to working with Norway for peace, democracy and equitable international relations, the two countries were doing their best to keep that promise alive.
“Coming back to Nelson Mandela’s words, we look forward to continuing to work together with South Africa to promote our common goals of peace, democracy, self-determination, prosperity and development.
“As we celebrate Freedom Day tomorrow (Sunday), we are also reminded about the important values of solidarity and international cooperation,” Saether said.
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