Francois Francois Redelinghuys, Author at Solidariteit Beweging

National state of disaster must end; legal action is coming – Solidarity Movement

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

The Solidarity Movement, including Solidarity and AfriForum, took a stand today by declaring that no further reasons exists for the current state of disaster, which has been in operation for about 22 months, to remain in force. This comes after the state of disaster was extended again by the government.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, it seems that the pandemic is now entering an endemic phase. Furthermore, it appears that increased group immunity against Covid-19 can now be detected with the Omicron variant, resulting in less serious illness and fewer deaths. “The fact that the virus is now endemic means the virus won’t disappear, but we will have to learn to live with the virus. It also means that exceptional measures by the state, such as those that can be instituted under a state of disaster, are no longer necessary in an effort to control the virus,” Buys said.

According to Buys, the Movement is also very concerned about the state of schools in South Africa due to the restrictions that hamper education. “The fact that many schools are still unable to return to a normal way of functioning intensifies the concerns about the future of a whole generation of learners,” Buys said.

Both AfriForum and Solidarity will proceed with legal action in order to ask the courts to end the state of disaster.

According to Kallie Kriel, Chief Executive of AfriForum, the state of disaster poses a threat to freedom, as it gives the government extraordinary power to dramatically restrict civil liberties without subjecting such power to parliamentary oversight and decision-making in any way. “The fact that the state of disaster can be prolonged repeatedly without parliamentary approval is a serious violation of sound democratic principles,” Kriel said.

According to Solidarity CEO Dr Dirk Hermann, the current state of disaster creates major uncertainty for workers, companies and the economy in general, and it must therefore be terminated. “The state of disaster enables government to implement at short notice measures that affect the livelihood of businesses and workers. This sword hanging over the economy creates uncertainty that hampers capital formation and further expansion at a time when economic growth is crucially important,” Hermann said.

According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s campaign manager, the organisation will submit its court documents soon. “AfriForum has already taken on several of the government’s outrageous measures, including the curfew regulations, state quarantine camps and the ban on religious gatherings. The time has come for the state of disaster to be lifted in its entirety,” Broodryk said.

Hermann concluded by saying declarations that the state of disaster could not be terminated at short notice conveniently forget about the regulations that had been introduced and enforced “with immediate effect” under the state of disaster.

Further details regarding the proposed legal action will be announced soon.

Ramptoestand moet beëindig word; regstappe kom – Solidariteit Beweging

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

Die Solidariteit Beweging, waaronder Solidariteit en AfriForum, het vandag standpunt ingeneem deur te stel dat daar geen verdere rede bestaan waarom die huidige ramptoestand, wat al sowat 22 maande in werking is, van krag moet bly nie. Dit volg nadat die ramptoestand onlangs weer deur die regering verleng is.

Volgens Flip Buys, voorsitter van die Solidariteit Beweging, begin dit blyk dat die pandemie nou na ŉ endemiese fase beweeg. Voorts blyk dit dat daar nou verhoogde groepimmuniteit teen Covid-19 te bespeur is met die Omikron-variant wat tot minder ernstige siekte en sterftes gelei het. “Die feit dat die virus nou endemies is, beteken dat die virus nie gaan weggaan nie maar dat daar met die virus saamgeleef moet word. Dit beteken voorts dat uitsonderlike maatreëls deur die staat, soos wat onder ŉ ramptoestand ingestel kan word, nie meer nodig is om die virus in bedwang te probeer hou nie,” het Buys gesê.

Volgens Buys is die Beweging ook baie bekommerd oor die stand van skole in Suid-Afrika weens beperkings wat onderwys belemmer. “Die feit dat baie skole steeds nie na normale funksionering kan terugkeer nie, verdiep die kommer oor die toekoms van ŉ hele generasie leerders,” het Buys gesê.

Beide AfriForum en Solidariteit gaan voorts met regstappe begin om sodoende die howe te vra om die ramptoestand te beëindig.

Volgens Kallie Kriel, uitvoerende hoof van AfriForum, hou die ramptoestand ‘n bedreiging vir vryheid in, aangesien dit aan die regering buitengewone mag gee om burgerlike vryhede dramaties in te perk sonder dat sodanige mag op enige wyse aan parlementêre toesig en besluitneming onderwerp word. “Die feit dat die ramptoestand aanhoudend verleng kan word sonder parlementêre goedkeuring, is ŉ ernstige skending van gesonde demokratiese beginsels,” het Kriel gesê.

Volgens dr. Dirk Hermann, bestuurshoof van Solidariteit, skep die huidige ramptoestand groot onsekerheid vir werkers, maatskappye en die ekonomie oor die algemeen, en dit moet dus beëindig word. “Die ramptoestand stel die regering in staat om op kort kennisgewing maatreëls in plek te stel wat besighede en werkers se lewensbestaan beïnvloed. Hierdie swaard wat oor die ekonomie hang skep onsekerheid vir kapitaalvorming en verdere uitbreiding in ŉ tyd waar ekonomiese groei nou van kardinale belang is,” sê Hermann.

Volgens Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum se veldtogtebestuurder, sal die organisasie eersdaags sy hofstukke indien.
“AfriForum het reeds verskeie van die regering se verregaande maatreëls aangevat, insluitend die aandklokreël, staatskwarantynkampe en die verbod op godsdienstige byeenkomste. Dit is nou hoog tyd dat die ramptoestand in sy geheel opgehef word,” sê Broodryk.

Hermann sluit af deur te sê dat argumente dat die ramptoestand nie op kort kennisgewing beëindig kan word nie, gerieflikheidshalwe vergeet van die regulasies wat met “onmiddellike effek” onder die ramptoestand ingestel en afgedwing is.

Verdere besonderhede oor die voorgenome regstappe word binnekort bekend gemaak.

Riots – Solidarity Movement tells members: Remain calm and organise yourselves

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

At a media conference held today, the Solidarity Movement encouraged its supporters to intensify their level of alertness, to remain calm amid the riots that are plaguing certain parts of the country, and to join their local neighbourhood watch.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, faction fighting within the ANC, which initially led to the looting spree, provided a platform for criminal elements to abuse the situation to steal and to loot. Buys called on law enforcement to restore order and to arrest offenders. According to Buys, the public should, however, not leave their safety and that of their families and communities just to the SAPS because there is much that they can do themselves within the framework of the law to intensify their own levels of preparedness. “If you can protect yourself and your family, you can also protect your neighbours. If you can protect your neighbours, you can jointly protect your community,” Buys added. Buys encouraged people to join one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches that have been established countrywide or to join other community structures.

Kallie Kriel, AfriForum’s chief executive, said organised communities need not be plunged into fear, but can remain calm in the knowledge that their safety is in their own hands. According to Kriel it is not a strange phenomenon for communities to take responsibility for their own safety as several communities in KwaZulu-Natal have done in recent days. In the past Afrikaners have also assumed responsibility for their own safety whenever necessary. “In recent years, AfriForum has invested a great deal of resources in the establishment of community safety structures and already runs 159 neighbourhood watches, has a network of control rooms, a nationwide radio network, 12 500 neighbourhood watch volunteers, an air wing with 53 drone pilots and well-trained staff and volunteers. Apart from this, AfriForum collaborates with a network of other neighbourhood watches, GPF structures, security companies and, in many places, with local police stations,” Kriel said.

According to AfriForum Head of Safety Colonel Jan Wessels, AfriForum has already, at the onset of the riots, put its existing community safety plans into operation by having AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches on standby. Wessels pointed out that AfriForum’s control rooms and its structures on the ground are monitoring the situation closely, that guidelines have been issued to AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches to further fine-tune their existing safety plans with the current situation in mind. Neighbourhood watches were asked to increase visibility and to assist each other and other role players where necessary. “AfriForum will not involve itself in conflicts on highways and at other prominent places but will focus all its attention on being ready and prepared within the framework of the law to help ensure the safety of neighbourhoods where we operate,” Wessels said.

To join one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches, please visit www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za.

The Solidarity Movement also calls on members of the public to contribute to the Movement’s Crisis Fund in support of Solidarity Helping Hand in KwaZulu-Natal to enable it to make essential provisions available to communities. Please use this link to contribute: www.krisisfonds.co.za.

Onluste – Solidariteit Beweging sê aan lede: Bly kalm en organiseer

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

Die Solidariteit Beweging het vandag by ŉ mediakonferensie sy ondersteuners aangemoedig om te midde van die onluste wat sekere dele van die land teister, hul weerbaarheid op te skerp, kalm te bly en by hul plaaslike buurtwag aan te sluit.

Volgens Flip Buys, voorsitter van die Solidariteit Beweging, het die faksiegevegte in die ANC wat aanvanklik tot die plundery aanleiding gegee, ŉ platform gebied vir kriminele elemente om die situasie te misbruik om te steel en te buit. Buys het ŉ beroep op wetstoepassers gedoen om die orde te herstel en die skuldiges aan te keer. Volgens Buys moet die publiek egter nie hul veiligheid en dié van hul gesinne en gemeenskappe net aan die SAPD oorlaat nie want hulle kan self baie doen om hul eie weerbaarheid binne die raamwerk van die wet te verskerp. “As jy jouself en jou gesin kan beskerm, kan jy ook jou bure beskerm. As jy jou bure beskerm, kan julle saam julle gemeenskap beskerm,” het Buys bygevoeg. Buys het mense aangemoedig om by een van AfriForum se buurtwagte wat landswyd gevestig is, of by ander gemeenskapsveiligheidstrukture aan te sluit.

Kallie Kriel, uitvoerende hoof van AfriForum, het gesê georganiseerde gemeenskappe hoef nie in vrees te verval nie en kan kalm bly in die wete dat hul veiligheid in hul eie hande is. Dit is volgens Kriel nie ŉ vreemde verskynsel dat gemeenskappe self verantwoordelikheid vir hulle eie veiligheid aanvaar nie, soos wat verskeie gemeenskappe in KwaZulu-Natal die afgelope paar dae gewys het. Afrikaners het ook in die geskiedenis telkens self verantwoordelikheid vir hul eie veiligheid aanvaar. “AfriForum het die afgelope paar jaar baie hulpbronne daarin belê om gemeenskapsveiligheidstrukture tot stand te bring en beskik reeds oor 159 buurtwagte, ŉ netwerk van beheerkamers, ŉ landswye radionetwerk, 12 500 buurtwag-vrywilligers, ŉ lugvleuel met 53 hommeltuig-vlieëniers en goed opgeleide personeel en vrywilligers. Benewens dit werk AfriForum saam met ŉ netwerk van ander buurtwagte, GPF-strukture, sekuriteitsmaatskappye en op talle plekke met plaaslike polisiestasies,” het Kriel gesê.

Volgens Kolonel Jan Wessels, AfriForum se veiligheidshoof, het AfriForum reeds by die aanvang van die onluste sy bestaande gemeenskapsveiligheidsplanne in werking gestel deur AfriForum se buurtwagte op bystand te plaas. Wessels het daarop gewys dat AfriForum se beheerkamers en grondvlakstrukture die situasie fyn monitor, dat riglyne aan AfriForum se buurtwagte gestuur is om hul bestaande veiligheidsplanne verder te verfyn met inagneming van die huidige omstandighede. Buurtwagte is gevra om sigbaarheid te verhoog en mekaar en ander rolspelers waar nodig by te staan. “AfriForum gaan nie by die konflikte op snelweë en ander prominente plekke betrokke raak nie, maar gaan wel al ons aandag fokus om binne die raamwerk van die wet gereed te wees om die veiligheid van woonbuurte waar ons funksioneer te help verseker,” het Wessels gesê.

Besoek www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za om by een van AfriForum se buurtwagstrukture aan te sluit.

Die Solidariteit Beweging doen ook ŉ beroep op lede van die publiek om die Beweging se Krisisfonds te steun om Solidariteit Helpende Hand in KwaZulu-Natal in staat te stel om lewensmiddele aan lede van die gemeenskap beskikbaar te stel. Gebruik dié skakel om by te dra: www.krisisfonds.co.za.

Vaccines: effective and safe, but everyone must decide for themselves – Solidarity Movement

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

The Solidarity Research Institute found in a comprehensive scientific report that vaccines are an effective and safe way to end the Covid-19 pandemic. The report also supports people’s freedom to decide for themselves. Strong criticism is also levelled at the government’s central control of the vaccine program and consequently it was also found that the private sector should become involved on a major scale.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, large numbers of the Solidarity Movement’s members and other South Africans will have to make a decision regarding vaccinations within the next few weeks. “We want to enable our members and other South Africans to make decisions in a responsible way. Covid-19 is hitting all of us hard and everyone is longing for an end to the pandemic. With all the opinions, fake news and political agendas doing the rounds, good scientific research is essential. From the findings in the report, we can encourage our members to get the vaccines, but on condition that everyone must make their decision in a responsible way and take their own unique circumstances into account. The data indicate one risk that for most people is much greater than the vaccines, and that is not to get the vaccine.”

According to the report, in which a proper international study was done, it was found that vaccines are indeed effective. In countries such as Israel, the United Kingdom and Hungary, there is a direct link between the administration of vaccines, a decrease in infections and in particular a decrease in hospitalisation and deaths. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are effective. It is also on the basis of findings in this report that the Solidarity Movement can neither recommend the Chinese vaccine SinoVac nor the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The availability of existing data is insufficient, with the result that no conclusion can be drawn at present on the efficacy of these two vaccines

An in-depth investigation was conducted into data on reports of side effects, as stated by Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute. “Proper scientific research has been done and original data have been used so that inferences are watertight. It has been found that the vaccines are indeed safe to a large extent. Like other medications, there are side effects, but for most people the risk posed by Covid-19 is much higher than the risk of getting the vaccine.”

Mulder also said that none of the vaccines can provide total protection against Covid-19. However, they do provide comprehensive protection against serious symptoms and death. It is probably not necessary for children to be vaccinated but parents can seek good medical advice from doctors.

Data show that claims that large numbers of people die due to vaccination are simply not true. The risk for blood clots and cardio-related side effects is small. Most of the side effects reported are mild and similar to those of any other vaccine.
The researchers also found that it is important that individuals who are already experiencing health problems, are currently ill and who have previously experienced side effects from vaccines should first contact their doctor to find out whether it would be safe for them to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

According to AfriForum Chief Executive Kallie Kriel, those who want to make a choice should be able to do so. “The government’s centralisation of vaccines is causing a bottleneck in the vaccination process. The fact that the process is being monopolised is unacceptable. The private sector must on a large scale be involved at all levels of the value chain. Not only is it important that people should be able to choose whether they want to be vaccinated or not, but they should also be able to choose which vaccine they want to receive.”

According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, Solidarity’s members, like so many other South African citizens, are currently being hard hit by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our members are tired of lockdowns and want to get rid of it. Vaccination can definitely play a major role in getting out of the pandemic. Levels of confidence in the government are justifiably so very low. There is a fine line between trust in the government and trust in vaccines. The government abused its power during the lockdown, eroded freedoms and created a breeding ground for scepticism about vaccines.

“What we now have to do is to consider the facts. We encourage all to assess their circumstances, make their decision (in a responsible way) and to exercise their freedom of choice,” Hermann concluded.

Download the report here: http://soli.online/2yq

Entstowwe: doeltreffend en veilig, maar elkeen moet kan kies – Solidariteit Beweging

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

Die Solidariteit Navorsingsinstituut het in ŉ omvattende wetenskaplike verslag bevind dat entstowwe ŉ doeltreffende en veilige manier is om die Covid-19-pandemie te beëindig. Die verslag ondersteun ook mense se vryheid om self te kan kies. Sterk kritiek word ook op die regering se sentrale beheer van die entstofprogram gelewer en gevolglik is daar ook bevind dat die privaat sektor op groot skaal betrokke moet raak.

Volgens Flip Buys, voorsitter van die Solidariteit Beweging, gaan groot getalle van die Solidariteit Beweging se lede en ander Suid-Afrikaners binne die volgende weke ŉ keuse oor entstowwe moet maak. “Ons wil ons lede en ander Suid-Afrikaners in staat stel om verantwoordelike keuses te maak. Covid-19 tref ons almal swaar en almal smag daarna om ŉ einde aan die pandemie te bring. Met al die menings, fopnuus en politieke agendas wat die rondte doen, is goeie wetenskaplike navorsing noodsaaklik. Uit die bevindinge in die verslag kan ons ons lede aanmoedig om wel die entstowwe te gebruik, maar op voorwaarde dat elkeen self ŉ verantwoordelike besluit moet neem en sy eie unieke omstandighede in ag sal neem. Die data wys een risiko uit wat baie groter is as entstowwe vir die meeste mense: dit is om nié entstowwe te gebruik nie.”

Volgens die verslag, waarin ’n behoorlike internasionale studie gedoen is, is bevind dat entstowwe wel doeltreffend is. In lande soos Israel, die Verenigde Koninkryk en Hongarye is daar ŉ regstreekse verband tussen die toediening van entstowwe, ’n afname in infeksies en veral ŉ afname in hospitalisasie en sterftes. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca en Johnson & Johnson is effektief. Dit is ook op grond van bevindinge in die betrokke verslag dat die Solidariteit Beweging nie die Chinese entstof SinoVac asook nie die Russiese Sputnik V-entstof kan aanbeveel nie. Die beskikbaarheid van bestaande data is onvoldoende, wat tot gevolg het dat geen gevolgtrekking tans oor die doeltreffendheid van hierdie twee entstowwe gemaak kan word nie.

Daar is ŉ grondige ondersoek gedoen na data van aanmeldings van newe-effekte, soos deur Connie Mulder, hoof van die Solidariteit Navorsingsinstituut, gestel. “Behoorlike wetenskaplike navorsing is gedoen en oorspronklike data is gebruik sodat afleidings waterdig is. Daar is bevind dat die entstowwe wel in ŉ groot mate veilig is. Soos ander medikasie is daar newe-effekte, maar vir die meeste mense is die risiko wat Covid-19 inhou baie hoër as die risiko wat die entstowwe inhou.”

Mulder sê ook dat nie een van die entstowwe totale beskerming teen Covid-19 kan bied nie, maar dat dit wel omvattende beskerming teen ernstige simptome en sterftes bied. Dit is waarskynlik nie nodig dat kinders die entstof ontvang nie, maar ouers kan goeie mediese advies by dokters inwin.

Die data wys dat die aansprake dat groot getalle mense weens die toediening van die entstof doodgaan, eenvoudig nie waar is nie. Die risiko vir bloedklonte en hartverwante newe-effekte is klein. Die meeste newe-effekte wat aangemeld is, is lig en stem ooreen met dié van enige ander entstof.

Die navorsers het ook bevind dat dit belangrik is dat individue wat reeds gesondheidsprobleme ondervind, tans siek is en voorheen newe-effekte van entstowwe ondervind het, eers met hul dokter moet skakel om seker te maak of dit veilig is om teen Covid-19 ingeënt te word.

Volgens Kallie Kriel, uitvoerende hoof van AfriForum, moet mense wat ŉ keuse wil maak, ŉ keuse kan maak. “Die regering se sentralisasie van entstowwe veroorsaak ŉ bottelnek in die entstofproses. Dat die proses gemonopoliseer word, is onaanvaarbaar. Die privaat sektor moet op alle vlakke van die waardeketting op ŉ groot skaal betrokke raak. Dit is nie net belangrik dat mense moet kan kies of hulle ŉ entstof wil ontvang nie, maar ook watter entstof hulle wil ontvang.”

Volgens dr. Dirk Hermann, bestuurshoof van Solidariteit, word Solidariteit se lede, soos talle ander Suid-Afrikaanse burgers, tans ernstig deur die derde golf van die Covid-19-pandemie getref. “Ons lede is moeg vir inperkings en wil daaruit kom. Inenting kan beslis ŉ groot rol speel om uit die pandemie te kom. Vertrouensvlakke in die regering is met reg baie laag. Daar is ŉ fyn lyn tussen vertroue in die regering en vertroue in entstowwe. Die regering het sy mag tydens die inperking misbruik, vryhede weggekalwe en ŉ teelaarde vir skeptisisme oor entstowwe geskep.

“Wat ons nou moet doen is om na die feite te kyk. Ons moedig almal aan om hul omstandighede te evalueer en hul besluit (verantwoordelik) te neem en hul vryheid van keuse uit te oefen,” sluit Hermann af.

Laai die verslag hier af: http://soli.online/2yr

Solidarity Movement welcomes Constitutional Court ruling against Zuma; calls for consistency

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

The Solidarity Movement today welcomed the Constitutional Court’s ruling in terms of which Jacob Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court and was sentenced to imprisonment of 15 months.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, Jacob Zuma’s conviction is a first step to let justice prevail against a former president who has dragged the country to the brink of the abyss although cases against him are still pending for decades of offences.

Buys furthermore said that although this ruling should be seen in a positive light, much still needs to be done to restore the confidence of South Africans. “The fact of the matter is that South Africa is still plagued by unprecedented high levels of corruption that have been evident as recently as last year with the shameless looting of funds destined for aid. The real test will depend on whether or not this political elite can also be prosecuted successfully,” Buys said.

Buys further stated that the response to the ruling does indeed reflect South Africans’ collective feelings about the ruling elite that are disregarding the law with impunity. “Hopefully, this could usher in an era in which more accountability is expected from politicians and government officials,” Buys said.

According to Buys, the Movement is however skeptical whether Zuma would hand himself over and if not, whether he would be arrested. “It is widely known that Zuma and his followers still have several supporters within the ruling party. If Zuma does not hand himself over, deliberate action must be taken to effect his arrest,” Buys concluded.

Solidariteit Beweging verwelkom grondwethof-uitspraak teen Zuma; vra vir konsekwentheid

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

Die Solidariteit Beweging het vandag die grondwethof se uitspraak verwelkom waarin hy Jacob Zuma skuldig bevind het aan minagting van die hof en hom tot 15 maande tronkstraf gevonnis het.

Volgens Flip Buys, voorsitter van die Solidariteit Beweging, is die skuldigbevinding teen Jacob Zuma ŉ eerste stap om geregtigheid te laat geskied teen ŉ voormalige president wat die land tot op die rand van die afgrond gesleep het, hoewel sake teen hom oor dekades se misdrywe nog hangende is.

Buys het voorts gesê dat hoewel dié uitspraak in ŉ positiewe lig gesien moet word, daar nog baie moet gebeur om weer Suid-Afrikaners se vertroue in te boesem. “Die feit bly staan dat Suid-Afrika steeds geteister word deur ongekende hoë vlakke van korrupsie wat selfs tot so onlangs as verlede jaar met die skaamtelose plundering van hulpfondse te sien was. Die werklike toets gaan daarby berus of hierdie politieke elite ook suksesvol vervolg sal kan word, al dan nie,” het Buys gesê.

Buys het dit verder gestel dat die reaksie op die uitspraak wel Suid-Afrikaners se kollektiewe gevoel rakende regerende elite wat die reg straffeloos minag, weerspieël. “Dit kan hopelik ŉ era inlui waar meer verantwoordbaarheid onder politici en staatsamptenare verwag word,” het Buys gesê.

Volgens Buys is die Beweging wel skepties daaroor of Zuma homself gaan oorhandig en indien nie, of hy gearresteer sal word. “Dit is wyd bekend dat Zuma en sy volgelinge steeds verskeie ondersteuners binne die regerende party het. Indien Zuma homself nie oorhandig nie moet daar doelgerig opgetree word om sy inhegtenisname te bewerkstellig,” het Buys afgesluit.

Solidariteit Beweging wil samewerking tussen SA en Hongarye bevorder

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

Die Solidariteit Beweging het die afgelope week saam met verteenwoordigers van verskillende bedrywe in Hongarye ŉ vereniging in Boedapest opgerig wat samewerking tussen Hongarye en Suid-Afrika sal bevorder. Dit volg nadat ŉ afvaardiging van die Beweging die afgelope twee weke met politici, sakeleiers, akademici en ander leiersfigure in Hongarye ontmoet het.

Die Hongaars-Suider-Afrikaanse Vriendskapsvereniging is formeel as ŉ vereniging by die owerhede in Hongarye geregistreer en sal verskeie projekte fasiliteer. Die Solidariteit Beweging het verlede jaar reeds besluit om sy Europese netwerk ook na Sentraal- en Oos-Europa uit te brei met ŉ eerste sterk fokus op die vier lande wat deel van die Visegrad-groep is, naamlik Pole, Hongarye, Slowakye en Tsjeggië. Die vriendskapsvereniging sal ŉ voltydse kantoor in Boedapest hê wat deur Hongare gefinansier word.

Tydens die onlangse besoek is met verskeie senior regeringsleiers in Boedapest oor uitdagings en geleenthede samesprekings gevoer. Volgens Jaco Kleynhans, hoof van Internasionale Skakeling by die Beweging, het die Beweging vyf belangrike doelwitte met internasionale skakeling. Eerstens is dit om kulturele vriendskappe in soveel as moontlik lande te smee sodat daar veral ŉ groter bewustheid van Suid-Afrika se diversiteit geskep kan word. “Terwyl ons in alle internasionale skakeling Suid-Afrika se enorme uitdagings van swak regering, korrupsie, misdaad en die Afrikaners se unieke belewenis van Suid-Afrika oordra, maak ons dit ook duidelik dat Suid-Afrika ŉ land van ongekende geleenthede is en dat die land nie afgeskryf moet word nie. Ons bevorder dus vriendskap, eerder as om net buitelandse kritiek en druk te probeer ontlont.” Verdere doelwitte sluit in die bevordering van sake-geleenthede, akademiese samewerking, uitruiling van landboukennis en -tegnologie en kulturele projekte om groter bewustheid van die twee streke se kulturele verskeidenheid te skep.

Die Beweging beplan veral om deur die nuutgestigte vereniging sakegeleenthede vir sy lede in Hongarye te help ontgin sodat lede van die Beweging hul internasionale bedrywighede kan diversifiseer. “Ons het tydens ons besoek ook met verskeie universiteite, akademici en politici wat akademiese beleid beïnvloed, vergader met die doel om ons eie opleidingsinstellings, insluitende Akademia en Sol-Tech, se internasionale bande te versterk. Ons verwag baie goeie samewerking oor die volgende paar jaar tussen ons instellings en universiteite in Hongarye. Die Beweging se planne om binnekort met landbou-opleiding te begin, sal ook ŉ hupstoot kry met samewerking uit Hongarye. Verder beplan ons om met die hulp van groepe in Hongarye meer studente uit Suid-Afrika te stuur om met spesiale beurse in Hongarye te gaan studeer.”

Die Beweging se afvaardiging na Hongarye het bestaan uit Kleynhans, dr. Theo de Jager, voorsitter van Saai, Werner Human, operasionele bestuurder van die Beweging, Ernst Roets, hoof van beleid en aksie van AfriForum, en Piet le Roux, uitvoerende hoof van Sakeliga.

Solidarity Movement commiserates with Zulus on the death of King Zwelithini

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Francois Francois Redelinghuys

The Solidarity Movement today expressed its sincere condolences towards the Zulu royal family and the Zulu community after it was announced that His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini passed away this morning.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, the Movement and AfriForum in particular maintained good relationships with the royal family in order to achieve mutual recognition and respect between different cultural communities in South Africa.

According to Buys, King Zwelithini played a significant role in the cultural expression and identity of the Zulu community, and continually also showed respect for other cultural communities in a diverse country.

“As a Movement we are saddened to hear of the death of King Zwelithini. The country and the Zulu people in particular are poorer because of his death,” Buys said.