Pretoria, April 5, 2013 (SPS) - Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, HE Mrs. Maite Nkoane-Mashabane, confirmed that human rights violations in Western Sahara “stem from the non-realisation of the right to self-determination for the Saharawi people”, reaffirming solidarity with SADR government and people in their struggle for self-determination and independence.
“South Africa has constantly held that the human rights violations in Western Sahara stem from the non-realisation of the right to self-determination for the people of Western Sahara,” wrote Mrs. Nkoane-Mashabane, in a letter sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, a copy of it reached SPS on Friday.
This sentiment, he added, was expressed by His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma in his recent State of the Nation Address delivered to the joint sitting of the South African Parliament on 14 February 2013.
The South African Minister recalled that the South African government has released “press statement” condemning the human rights violations by Morocco in the Western Sahara occupied territories.
“Let me take this opportunity to reaffirm South Africa’s solidarity with the Government and the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, in your struggle for self-determination and independence,” underlined Mrs. Nkoane-Mashabane.
The letter is a response to a letter sent on 28 February 2013 by Saharawi Foreign Minister concerning the human rights violations in the occupied Western Sahara, particularly the recent sentencing of the 25 Saharawi civilians by the Moroccan military tribunal. (SPS)
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