RULING ANC IN SOUTH AFRICA EXPRESSES ITS WELL WISHES TO THE TAMIL COMMUNITY ON TAMIL NEW YEAR

 

 

The ruling African National Congress in South Africa had expressed its well wishes to the Tamil community in the country and across the world on Tamil New Year (April 14 2021).

The message was contained in a media release issued by the organisation’s national spokesperson, Mr Pule Mabe, on Wednesday, April 14 (2021) in Johannesburg.

 

 

            “TAMIL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY”

 

The ANC’s statement, also published on its webpage, read:

“As the Tamil people celebrate 5 122 years, the ANC wishes to express its appreciation for their contribution in nation-building, moral regeneration, poverty eradication and the advancement of black economic empowerment.

“The ANC is confident that other communities will emulate the noble and patriotic example consistently shown by the Tamil people in working towards a peaceful, non-racial and democratic South Africa based on the principles of social and economic justice.

                                      GRATITUTE

“The ANC wishes to express its gratitude to the Tamil people for their continued support and solidarity with the poorest of the poor. We urge them to continue along this noble path. The ANC believes that government, working alone, cannot succeed to adequately address the plight of the poorest of the poor. The contribution of all sectors of society is critical, and the Tamil people have been exemplary.

“The ANC appreciates that, as a result of COVID-19, the Tamil community cannot be in their temples during this sacred period. We wish to thank the Tamil community for complying with all measures and regulations that seek to defeat the pandemic.

“Our gratitude goes to the Tamil community for their commitment and dedication to ease the burden placed on citizens’ shoulders by COVID-19.

“The ANC wishes the Tamil community a blessed New Year.”

The message by the ANC follows in the footsteps of similar sentiments issued by leaders in the British and Canadian governments. Masses of Tamil people reside in these two countries, United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other countries like the more than 500 000 people of Tamil-origin in South Africa.

It’s understood that the ANC had conveyed similar Tamil New Year messages for more than two years.

The Tamil-origin people in South Africa are descendants of indentured labourers who were brought along with Hindi, Telegu and Malayalam communities by the British Colonial Government since 1860 to work on the sugar plantations of the then Natal Colony. Since their arrival nearly 161 years ago, they involved themselves fully in the struggles against racial discrimination and later in the liberation war against white minority rule.

Many people believe that the ANC’s latest move is a sign that the major cultural events of all communities are being recognised in our new non-racial and democratic South Africa.   

South Africa is a multi-cultural country and, therefore, all communities should feel at home. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com April 16 2021