UDF commemorates 40th anniversary amid SA’s woes

Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF), at the Rocklands Civic Centre in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town.

Former UDF activists have arranged a series of events to commemorate the day, under the theme “Building active citizenship for accountability and transformation”. UDF veterans from the Western Cape will also take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the launch of the movement.

In 1983, thousands of activists from a range of organisations including youth, civic, faith-based and trade unions attended the launch of the anti-apartheid movement.

The Steering Committee of the 40th anniversary of the UDF said on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa will be among the keynote speakers at its celebrations in Johannesburg.

Boesak has been calling for the revival of UDF: 

UDF’s stance on current issues 

Meanwhile, the Reverend Frank Chikane dismissed criticism from Allan Boesak that the United Democratic Front had been largely quiet and selective in its disapproval of the direction the country is taking.

Chikane was addressing the media about the preparations for the 40th-anniversary celebrations.

Some founding members of the UDF have called for active citizenry to solve the many problems facing the country.

Boesak, who is one of the founding members of the UDF, accused his contemporaries of being selective in their criticism of the government.