SOUTH AFRICA: UNITED STATES BLACK MOSLEM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN CONTINUES HIS VISIT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Record ID: 337607

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: UNITED STATES BLACK MOSLEM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN CONTINUES HIS VISIT IN SOUTH AFRICA
  • Date: 31st January 1996
  • Summary: MAMELODI TOWNSHIP, PRETORIA AND JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JANUARY 31, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) MAMELODI TOWNSHIP, NEAR JOHANNESBURG 1. SV GRASMERE SQUATTER CAMP OUTSIDE JOHANNESBURG 0.05 2. SV LOUIS FARRAKAHN ARRIVING GREETING PEOPLE, WALKING TO HOUSE, GREETING OWNER (3 SHOTS) 0.21 3. SV MEDIA AOUND FARRAKHAN (3 SHOTS) 0.34
  • Embargoed: 15th February 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEAR PRETORIA AND JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City:
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVAER7Z25IGLH22S5KQUL8UK7L2B
  • Story Text: United States black Moslem leader Louis Farrakhan has proclaimed his solidarity with blacks who lived under Apartheid in South Africa, saying on Wednesday (January 31) he had heard about their suffering all of his life.

    "We have heard so much about the suffering of our brothers and sisters in South Africa all of the years of my life. We not only suffered in America but we were concerned about the suffering of our brothers and sisters on the continent," said Farrakhan.

    He was addressing about 150 students at Vista University in the black township of Mamelodi outside Pretoria, after visiting a squatter camp south of Johannesburg, with his wife.

    Farrakhan, who mobilised hundreds of thousands of black men for a rally in Washington in October designed to promote black self-reliance and responsibility, arrived in South Africa on Sunday (January 28) and had talks later with President Nelson Mandela.

    His trip to South Africa, hosted by the black consciousness Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), has generated controversy with newspapers questioning its wisdom because of racial sensitivities in the new democracy.

    South African people in Johannesburg appeared to be divided with one black woman, Madiponto Mohlala, saying she thought he was very educated and not a racist as she had heard in the media. But one white woman, Magteld Venter, said: "He's a racist pig, he should go back to the states".

    Astrid Robeck said he was free to come to South Africa but she felt he should "watch his tongue because he might stir things that need not be stirred yet".

    A black youth, Daniel Shongwane, said he thought Farrakhan's trip had been a success, "because somebody like him to people like us, he has advised many of our brothers".

    The American spiritual leader is due to visit Cape Town on Thursday (February 1).


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