The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) stands in solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as they struggle to rid themselves of the repressive regime of President Joseph Kabila.
Last Friday members of the Catholic Church held a service to mourn the deaths of 12 people who were killed on New Year’s Eve for demanding an end to Kabila’s authoritarian regime. The protests were organized by faith leaders who called on the Congolese to people to stand up and reclaim their country.
Kabila’s term expired in December 2016. He has even defied a Church-brokered peace accord with the opposition that called for elections by December 2017. But by March last year talks had fallen apart and the elections were delayed, sparking mass protests across the country.
On New Years Eve thousands of Congolese people heeded the call by the clergy to protest against the illegal administration of Joseph Kabila. Kabila responded to the protests with extreme violence. Police fired live ammunition, stun grenades and tear gas directly into the church. Worshippers and pastors were violently beaten and jailed. At least 120 people have been detained for daring to defy the repressive regime.
There is no doubt that Kabila’s regime is cruel and ruthless. The UN Mission in the DRC has documented over 700 violations across the country in October last year including extra judicial killings and rape. Mass graves have also been discovered in the town of Nganza where its alleged that government forces went door to door massacring entire families in March last year.
NUMSA condemns Kabila and his administration for the brutality and violence which has been meted out against the people of that country. He has no legitimacy and therefore has no right to govern. We demand that Kabila must be removed immediately and that that all political prisoners must be released. He must be relegated to the dustbin of history along with other dictators, which is where he belongs!  NUMSA demands an end to the war of terror which the administration of Kabila has unleased on the citizenry of the DRC.
It is in the best interests of all Congolese and the people of Africa that the current situation in DRC is arrested, and measures to restore democracy are taken – urgently.  As a Marxist-Leninist inspired trade union our struggle for justice and freedom knows no borders. We are part of the working class in all the 54 countries of Africa. An injury to one worker is therefore an injury to all of us.
NUMSA calls on all progressive working class formations on the continent and around the world to express solidarity with the people of the DRC and to condemn the tyranny of the administration of Kabila. We must do all we can to help the people of the DRC to free themselves of this illegitimate and authoritarian regime. We must ensure that the world no longer turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the suffering of ordinary people in that country. We say to our comrades in the DRC that they must not lose hope. They must unite and fight to remove this thug from the highest office in the country!
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
Issued by Irvin Jim
NUMSA General Secretary
For more information contact:
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola
NUMSA National Spokesperson
0833767725