Marion Edmunds
Amnesty International is battling to get a foothold in the new South Africa. It does not have enough members locally to finance an office or staff, or enough political support to make an impact on government policy.
This is despite the fact that the organisation supported the African National Congress tirelessly during the struggle against apartheid.
Amnesty volunteer Noel van Breda said this week the introduction of a human rights culture in South Africa had not led to increased political and civic support for Amnesty locally.
The organisation had been battling to win the ear of a number of senior ANC leaders in government and its representatives had been “cold-shouldered” by Deputy President Thabo Mbeki during a visit to South Africa last year.
“The representatives were stunned at Mbeki’s attitude, particularly when they tried to discuss South Africa’s relations with Nigeria. The reception that Amnesty International got was very cool and we did not go down well in Mbeki’s office. We were accused of meddling in South Africa’s affairs,” he said.
Van Breda said the organisation would be monitoring South Africa’s foreign policy closely, particularly in the context of the Southern African region.
He expressed hope that Amnesty International South Africa’s second annual general meeting, taking place this week in Cape Town, will attract a tide of new members so that it can establish itself locally. Van Breda currently has to send faxes from a public facility in Cape Town and uses his personal cellphone to take Amnesty calls.
One of the skills the organisation will be teaching new members at the conference is how to lobby ANC MPs, and to re-establish the relations that have lapsed since the liberation movement moved into government.
Delegates will be coming from numerous countries, including Slovenia, Sweden, Ghana and the United Kingdom.