Mandla Mandela was due to address the ‘Dismantling Apartheid: South Africa to Palestine’ rally in Liberty Hall in Dublin this evening.
He was planning to pay tribute to former Dunnes Stores workers who took part in anti-apartheid strikes in the 1980s.
But organisers claimed the “intransigence” of the British Authorities in granting him a visa has resulted in his inability to travel to the UK and Ireland.
They said the Dunnes Stores workers “sparked a sparked a global campaign by trade unionists to boycott South African goods in the 1980s”.
Retail union Mandate said Mr Mandela will speak to the audience by video-link.
The former ANC MP was set to be the keynote speaker at the event and also planned to attend pro-Palestine events in London, Edinburgh and Brighton.
Spokesperson for the Mandate retail union, Dave Gibney, said the Irish date is not happening because the British government refused his visa.
“I believe they held onto his passport while processing the visa,” he said. “Furthermore, if he did get his passport returned, he would have missed at least one British event while he was travelling.”
Civil rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey, Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strikers, INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha, folk musicians Andy Irvine, Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Palestinian singer Leen are due to take part in the event, billed as an evening of discussion and song.
When asked why Mr Mandela was unable to enter the UK, a spokesperson at the British Home Office said the UK considers a wide range of information when assessing the suitability of visa applicants, across a range of issues where it would be appropriate to refuse a visa.
“This forms part of our robust safeguards in protecting the security of the UK border,” he said.
The event organisers said the role of the Dunnes Stores strikes in inspiring worker-led boycott action against apartheid South Africa and the role Irish workers can take to protest the actions of the Israeli regime will be the focus of the event.
“We wish we had the privilege of physically standing in the midst of the brave Dunnes Stores strikers and all those others in the proud city of Dublin who thirst for justice,” said ‘Mandla’ Mandela in a statement issued by the organisers ahead of the event.
“Unfortunately, events mean I cannot be there in person and also fulfil my obligation to address meetings in the UK, whose authorities have not facilitated my travel but have not prevented the people from hearing my voice and its demand for justice in Palestine.
“There is no South African who can forget Dunnes Stores, and the name of Mary Manning, the 21-year-old who refused to handle any South African products in Dunnes Stores and began a global campaign.”
When asked if it waived a visa requirement for Mr Mandela to travel to Dublin, a Department of Justice spokesperson said it does not comment on individual cases.
