City hosts high-powered Palestinian delegation

19-03-2015

 

The City of Johannesburg will use this year’s commemoration of Human Rights Day on Saturday March 21 to draw attention to the Palestinian question.
 

A high-powered delegation led by Ramallah Mayor Musa Hadid is in the country as guests of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau. 

The City declared the period between Tuesday March 17 and Saturday March 21 the “Palestinian Solidarity Week”, with a number of activities, including Palestinian struggle exhibitions, taking place in various centres around the city.
 

The delegation has also paid a visit to Soweto, making a stop at the Hector Petersen Museum in Orlando West. 

Members of the delegation also visited the iconic Vilakazi Street, also in Orlando West, famous for being probably the only street in the world to boost two Nobel peace laureates in the late former President Nelson Mandela and Bishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
 

The nine-member delegation is divided into two strands: political and technical. 

Apart from Mayor Hadid, the political arm also includes Dr Husam Zomlot, who is Executive Deputy Commissioner: Fatah Commission for International Relations. 
 

The City Johannesburg has a strong bond with the City of Ramallah. 

Last year, Mayor Tau was one of the keynote speakers at an international conference of local authorities, organised to show solidarity with people in the region. 
 

The conference’s theme was: “United for Palestine”.

A full programme has been put in place in an effort to expose members of the delegation to the City’s evolution since the country gained its democracy in 1994. 
 

One of the major highlights will be a visit to Constitution Hill, one of the country’s historical landmarks, given that it was once used as one of apartheid’s most notorious prisons that has since been upgraded and now houses South Africa’s highest court – the Constitutional Court.