Solidarity urges members to vote

Johannesburg - The Solidarity Movement urged its members and supporters on Wednesday to vote in the 7 May general election.

The call to participate in the election came after a meeting with the Freedom Front Plus, the movement's chairperson Flip Buys said in a statement.

"The discussion with the FF Plus forms part of a series of similar meetings with, among others, the DA and Agang SA.

"In the discussion with the FF Plus, the movement expressed concern, inter alia about the radicalisation of the ANC, the impact of affirmative action on South Africa, as well as the protection of minority rights in the country in general," he said.

The Solidarity Movement includes three member organisations. They are the trade union Solidarity, AfriForum and a community organisation Helping Hands.

Buys said that during meetings with political parties the movement conveyed its members' expectations.

Christian and family values, Afrikaners' right to lasting freedom, safety, prosperity and multilingualism, the Afrikaans language and cultural freedom were very important to the movement's members, he said.

"Our members also seek sound governance, a productive and well-paid workforce, true equality without race as the criterion, and a healthy working relationship with the government."

The Solidarity Movement called on all South Africans to remain constantly active in civil society and not only participate every five years in an election.