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US President Barack Obama is not welcome to South Africa, several of the country’s labour unions, civil society groups and political movements have said

Obama is scheduled to visit South Africa as part of his three-nation African tour that begins today but the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) today said he is not welcome.

Speaking at the union’s 10th Congress currently holding in Boksburg, Nehawu president Mzwandile Makwayiba said that US and South Africa’s foreign policies are very different. He called on South African workers to help block the visit.
“Labour unions, political movements and civil society bodies are expected to hold protests and pickets as the US President is scheduled to visit the country,” the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported this afternoon.
According to SABC: “The Stand-up Foundation in KwaZulu-Natal says it will lead a demonstration at the Durban City Hall on Wednesday afternoon in a campaign called, ‘No, you Can’t, Obama’.
“The group says it’s against Obama being allowed into the country, claiming he has committed crimes against humanity by supplying weapons to Israeli and Syrian rebels.

“The foundation’s president Shabnum Palesa Mohammad says ‘the protest is to stand up for truth and justice in real freedom’.
“Some University of Johannesburg students will also protest against UJ’s decision to award Obama an honorary doctorate.”

This is Obama’s first visit to South Africa. The tour will see him also visit Senegal and Tanzania.

•Photo shows President Obama.

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