South Africans plead for their relatives: 'I am terrified for my family and friends in Ukraine'

02 March 2022 - 07:00
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The Ukraine Association in South Africa has called for the SA government to immediately condemn the Russian war in Ukraine and to support the constitution that respects human rights, democracy and international law.
The Ukraine Association in South Africa has called for the SA government to immediately condemn the Russian war in Ukraine and to support the constitution that respects human rights, democracy and international law.
Image: Shonisani Tshikalange

“I am terrified for my family and friends in Ukraine,” says a tearful Angela Sevenster, who has all her family members stuck in the ongoing conflict.

On Tuesday, alongside others, Sevenster joined the Ukrainian Association in SA in a picket outside the offices of the department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco), in both Pretoria and Cape Town, to protest against the SA government for not condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine strongly enough.

“This is the most difficult moment in the lives of all my people and I believe any normal person will stand for them because they are innocent in the decision made by [Vladimir] Putin to go to war against us,” she said.

It was a devastating time for her and her family.

“All the time, I am sending messages to ask, are you still alive?

“When my friends in SA ask me, how is my family, I don’t say they are fine, I say they are alive and thank you that they are alive. Putin has only one intention — to destroy the nation of Ukraine — he hates it, he wants to destroy the language, culture and take the land for himself for whatever purpose he wants. Putin is a liar,” Sevenster said.

“My sister told me on Monday, 'I don’t know if I am going to be alive tomorrow but I want you to know that I love you',” she said.

Another protester, Anastasia Korpeso, said she had signed up to all possible Ukrainian news agencies to keep up to date with the news.

“When I cannot hear from my parents or from my friends for more than an hour or two, I call them, I send them a message, worried. I am checking the news every five seconds. What else can I do?” she said.

Korpeso said all her family and friends are in Ukraine except her husband and child.

“At this point I can say, thank God, they are in the western part of the country so they haven’t suffered that much. What they are doing is providing food and all the necessities for the front,” she said.

She said for the six days of the Russian invasion, there were about 500,000 displaced Ukrainians.

“All these rockets they are launching from behind the border like cowards and they do not care. It’s not just the airports or any other strategic objects or a military base, they are deliberately bombing apartment blocks in big cities,” Korpeso said.

The Ukrainian association of SA on Tuesday held a peaceful protest outside Dirco's offices in Pretoria and Cape Town.
The Ukrainian association of SA on Tuesday held a peaceful protest outside Dirco's offices in Pretoria and Cape Town.
Image: Shonisani Tshikalange
My sister told me on Monday 'I don’t know if I am going to be alive tomorrow but I want you to know that I love you.'
Angela Sevenster

Corley Rehbock said: “Putin is doing exactly what Hitler did, he is dividing families, not to mention the world.”

The Ukraine Association in SA has called on the SA government to openly condemn Russia's aggression and  also allow visa-free entrance to SA for Ukrainians whose family members are temporarily or permanently living in SA.

They want SA to stop economic co-operation with Russia and cease the Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik TV broadcasts.

Olena Mackay said her family was stuck in Kyiv.

 I have a nephew who is 18 and he can be called up to the army. He is still so young and he has his whole life ahead of him,” she said.

Mackay has called on all European countries to stand up for Ukraine.

“Please if anyone can hear us, I do hope that this will end soon and we can make a difference by standing up in SA. I do hope that all South African students come home as soon as possible and safe. Please pray with us,” Mackay said.

Zoya Andreeva said all her family are in Kharkiv, the second city of Ukraine where residential areas are under severe bomb attack.

She has called on the whole world, including SA, to reconsider their relationships with Russia.

“My mother is very weak, she lives alone in a private house, she’s got a basement but she just cannot get there because she is very weak and she’s got just a few seconds to get there, so what she does [when bombs come], she has to lie on the floor and just pray,” Andreeva said.

TimesLIVE


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