SA TAMIL FEDERATION AND RULING ANC TO ESTABLISH A WORKING COMMITTEE

(SATF officials with ANC deputy secretary general, Ms Jesse Duarte and struggle activist, Mr Krish Naidoo)

                                                             By Subry Govender




The South African Tamil Federation, which represents more than 650 000 South Africans, and the ruling ANC have decided to establish a joint Working Committee to tackle issues of concern.
This follows a meeting between leaders of the ANC and the SATF that was held at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on November 5.
According to Ms Sashnee Naicker, PRO of the SATF, the core issues tabled by the SATF related to the needs analysis  conducted through the establishment of the SATF's Youth, Women and Business Forums early this year.




                                                       SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO


The struggles for a frequency by Southside FM Radio and the support for the UN Human Rights Commission's resolution for an independent and full scale investigation into war atrocities experienced by the Sri Lankans were some of the issues raised and discussed.
Other issues raised include:
• The role for Tamil priests in the moral regeneration and social cohesion campaigns of the ANC and the war on poverty;
• Admission policies of universities and medical schools concerning learners;
• Black economic empowerment policies in the public and private sectors concerning work seekers;
• Creating more economic opportunities for entrepreneurs;
• Challenges facing the youth and women;  and
• An information centre to access various government grants.



                                                             

                                                       

(SATF president, Mr Karthi Moothsamy, and ANC Deputy Secretary General, Ms Jesse Duarte)                                     

                   


                                                            

"The SATF delegation, led by its President, Karthigasen Moothsamy, made it abundantly clear that the Tamil community was here to stay and to be part of the solution in South Africa to build a strong state and a South African nation," said Ms Naicker.
"The ANC acknowledged that the SATF was one of the first organisations to meet the ANC after its unbanning in 1990 and welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with the Tamil community.
"The South African Tamil Federation along with the ANC will be providing regular updates on the workings of the joint Committee."