Cape Town’s plan to honour Obamas opposed
BARACK and Michelle Obama do not deserve the freedom of Cape Town because of the US’s poor human rights record, including extra-judicial killings sanctioned by its presidency.
If the Obamas go ahead with a visit to Cape Town to accept the honour they will be met by mass protests, a number of Western Cape political parties and civil society organisations threatened yesterday.
At a media briefing headed by Cosatu, the labour federation’s provincial secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, said they were appalled at the award.
The organisations questioned Obama’s commitment to human rights, especially the US’s unconditional support of Israel “while the Zionist state oppressed Palestinians”.
The organisations include Cosatu, the United Democratic Movement, Cope, the SA National NGO Coalition, the National Party of SA, the PAC, the Muslim Judicial Council, Al Jama-ah and the African Christian Democratic Party.
Ehrenreich, who is also ANC leader in the city council, blamed the DA for playing party politics and accused executive mayor Patricia de Lille of not consulting communities and organisations on who should receive the award.
Muslim Judicial Council executive committee member Shuaib Appleby said the DA had ignored the sentiments of the majority of Capetonians on the Israel-Palestine question.
He said the US’s behaviour regarding the “Palestinian question” was “atrocious” as it endorsed Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
PAC councillor Anwar Adams said De Lille had not consulted even her own DA constituency, as even they had been surprised by her announcement. as more than 60 percent of the council had voted in favour of it.
The ANC Western Cape did not attend the media briefing, but provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile said: “This is above the city – it should come from national government. Cape Town is not a country.”
DA provincial leader Theuns Botha said: “I think it is shortsighted to oppose the award.
“It is an honour for Cape Town to be in the league of cities that can give freedom of the city to people like Nelson Mandela and now Mr Obama.
“This is also due to a stable DA government. I get the impression Mr Ehrenreich is just opposing anything and everything the DA government is doing.
“It is cheap politics to try and stop the award to Mr Obama. I must congratulate mayor De Lille.”