Poland in South Africa

Witnesses of the Holocaust, representatives of Jewish organizations and circles, international organizations, diplomatic corps, media, as well as citizens of South Africa participated in the commemoration ceremony in Johannesburg.

Occasional speeches were delivered by, among others, Tali Nates, Director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, Masimba Tafirenyika, Director of UNIC Pretoria, Andreas Peschke, German Ambassador to South Africa, Eli Belotsercovsky, Israeli Ambassador to South Africa, and Janine Walter, Director of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Paul Salmons, curator of the "Seeing Auschwitz" exhibition, gave a moving lecture entitled "Holocaust Remembrance Through Personal Items", which are seemingly everyday items that are among the last remnants of murdered people and each has its own unique story to tell.

All the speakers emphasized the importance of memory and its importance for the future. They also expressed concern that in the current world and turbulent time full of burning problems, growing violence and aggression, emerging anti-Semitic and racist slogans, hate speech, the memory of the victims of the Holocaust is of particular importance. On this important day, the speakers also referenced to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The gathered participants also watched a recorded speech by António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations. A. Guterres referred to the motto of this year's celebrations, emphasizing the humanity of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, whose homes were taken away by the perpetrators, as well as the sense of belonging.

During the commemoration, Holocaust witnesses lit candles in solidarity with the millions of victims of the Holocaust and as a sign of hope.

 

Photos: Grażyna Koornhof/Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria