A broad coalition of South African trade unions, political formations, civil-society organisations and solidarity movements are holding an emergency picket tomorrow, Thursday 8 January 2026, outside the USA Embassy in Pretoria, in condemnation of the United States’ military invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.
This emergency action marks the first coordinated public protest in South Africa against the current USA military assault on Venezuela and reflects the growing outrage among South Africans at Washington’s escalating lawlessness.
The actions of the USA are in clear violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the sovereignty of an independent nation. The United States is behaving like a gangster on the international stage, and as peace-loving peoples, we are appalled by its actions.
EMERGENCY PROTEST DETAILS
Thursday, 8 January 2026, From 12h00
USA Embassy, 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
Media & Enquiries or to Endorse: +27 (0) 84 211 9988
The picket and protest is lawful and we would like to thank the relevant authorities for swiftly facilitating this urgent gathering and enabling tomorrow’s emergency protest for Venezuela.
The action is jointly convened by COSATU, NEHAWU, POPCRU, SACP, YCL, Africa4Palestine, South Africa Latin America Association (SALA), Anti-Fascist International (South Africa Chapter), and other allied formations. Members of the media are invited to cover the protest and members of the public are invited to attend. We call on South Africans — workers, students, faith communities, activists, and all peace-loving people — to join this emergency protest and make their voices heard.
This picket is not only about Venezuela. It is about defending international law, national sovereignty, and the right of peoples to determine their own future without bombs, sanctions, kidnappings, or foreign interference from the USA. We reject the USA’s ongoing policy of war, coercion, sanctions, and regime-change operations particularly against poorer countries or those of the Global South.
Venezuela — a country with the largest proven oil reserves in the world — is being targeted not because it has failed its people, but because it has refused to hand over and surrender its sovereignty, resources, and political independence to USA corporations and USA imperial interests.
Yesterday it was Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya. Today it is Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any of us.
ISSUED ON 07 JANUARY 2026