Labour movement Solidarity says in a statement it will march with hundreds of Sasol employees and ordinary people on 25 October to stage a protest against racial exclusion.
Head of Solidarity Dirk Hermann (pictured) says “we won’t be marching for ourselves; we will be marching especially for the next generation. We should never have to say to our grandchildren that we did nothing.”
The mass march will take place in Sandton to the JSE and Sasol Head Office. “I want to invite you to march with us. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We can only be a mass of people if masses of individuals turn up – and you are one of those individuals,” says Hermann.
Solidarity says it has had a huge disagreement with Sasol management about the exclusion of white people from Sasol’s employee share scheme.
“The Sasol employees have decided to go on strike, with major sacrifices on their part, and to make their voices heard nationally and internationally. Their voices were heard on BBC, Russia Today, Bloomberg, Reuters and many more international media platforms.
“Their voice is the voice of many of my friends as well. Like the Sasol workers, I am also tired of racial exclusion. I am also tired of the fact that particularly Afrikaans-speaking people, and white people in general, are being excluded by places of work, universities, increasingly by schools, as well as from political decision-making.
“It is time for a bigger voice to be heard in the national and international world on 25 October. It will be very symbolic to close down Sandton, the home of national and international capital and media houses, for a day.
“We have received all the necessary permissions and the protest march will take place in typical Solidarity style. We will be firm but orderly; it will be safe and legal and nothing will get damaged.”
A convoy of buses and cars will leave from the Voortrekker Monument at 8:00 with people coming from other directions parking at the Rosebank Union Church. Buses will transport people from there to Mushroom Park from where the march will commence at 11:00.
“I therefore want to ask you personally to join the march. It will be a historical occasion. Take a day’s leave, take time off from work or come and join the march if you are retired. Even more important, send this message to all your friends and family. Get a group of friends, family and/or colleagues together and join the march,” urged Hermann.
