South Africans protest US attack on Venezuela, kidnapping of Maduro

Image via video screenshot on X

Various Sources

After a broad coalition of South African trade unions, political formations, civil society organisations and solidarity movements including the South African Communist Party (SACP) called for an emergency protest, protestors rallied en masse outside the US embassy in Pretoria to condemn the US military invasion of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

According to Africa4Palestine on X, today’s "action marked the first coordinated public protest in South Africa against the current USA military assault on Venezuela and reflects the growing outrage among South Africans at Washington’s escalating lawlessness."

They stated further that "This picket is not only about Venezuela. It is about defending international law, national sovereignty, and the right of peoples to determine their own future without bombs, sanctions, kidnappings, or foreign interference from the USA. We reject the USA’s ongoing policy of war, coercion, sanctions, and regime-change operations particularly against poorer countries or those of the Global South."

Protestors held placards that read “Hands Off Venezuela”, “Free President Maduro Now” and “End American Imperialism."

“They want to take this resource (oil reserves) directly under their control, and Donald Trump has not hidden it to the world. He has pronounced it with his own mouth,” SACP secretary general Solly Mapaila told protesters.

The US imperialist attack and kidnapping has been widely opposed in South Africa including by the government.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said this week, “We reject utterly the actions that the United States and stand with the people of Venezuela and we demand the release of President Majuro and his wife as well.”