South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a more inclusive recognition of the country’s role in the First World War, saying the history of South Africa’s wartime contribution cannot be limited to white combat soldiers.
Speaking at a commemorative event on Sunday, July 12, in France, Ramaphosa said the experiences of thousands of Black South Africans who served in the South African Native Labour Contingent must form part of the national memory.
He said more than 20,000 Black South African men travelled to France to support the Allied war effort by performing essential duties such as unloading ships, maintaining railway lines and transporting supplies. However, he noted that racial policies at the time prevented them from serving as equal armed soldiers and denied them the recognition given to white combatants.
Ramaphosa also highlighted the tragedy of the SS Mendi, which sank in February 1917 while carrying more than 800 members of the South African Native Labour Contingent to France. He said the men died in service to the country’s war effort, but their sacrifice was not fully acknowledged for decades.
The President said a democratic South Africa must confront its full history and avoid remembering the past in ways that elevate some lives while diminishing others. He stressed that true patriotism requires acknowledging and correcting historical injustices, adding that the lessons of the First World War demonstrate the importance of diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.