By Shakeel Bhaktawer, International Representative of the South African Communist Party
The international conference entitled “The Alliance to Prevent a Great War,” organized by the World Civilizations Initiative Research Center, was held at the Meyra Palace Hotel in Ankara on 18–19 July 2026.
UWI will present the speeches held on the conference during the coming days.
The conference, which featured presentations by speakers from Azerbaijan, Belarus, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Japan, Russia, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States, was attended by approximately 200 distinguished invited guests.
Ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, retired generals, scholars, politicians, diplomats, military officers, and experts examined the question of the “Alliance to Prevent a Great War” from a wide range of perspectives.
Below, we present the speech of Shakeel Bhaktawer. The title was set by UWI.
Hello everyone. Do you all know who I am. After I walk off this stage, I’ll be either guided off or kicked out. I’m Shakeel Bakhtawar, brother, husband, father and grandad to a beautiful family in the city of Tshwane in South Africa. Yes, the country where great leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Chris Hani were born. We were the oppressed nation until our struggle heroes persevered and maintained continuity, ending the evil sponsored apartheid regime. Today even with our issues and political scandals we are the rainbow nation. Our freedom came at a price where lives were lost, families were scattered, and homes destroyed. Is this not the current situation being experienced globally. And guess what…. The same instigators are involved in this destruction…….. The USA and the Zionist regime.
I’m not here to render a speech filled with history lessons. I’m here to say the communist revival and communist revolution has commenced. For too long we have been alliance partners pretending to absorb the flaws and inefficiencies of those we joined forces with. What have we gained. Political seats in governments with perks. We have sold our identity and it’s time to regain and reclaim our role for a Just and free world. A world free from imperialist ideas and bullying tactics. A role where the economy of our countries can grow for the Upliftment of our own and the development of our identity as independent nations. The communist language has to be reintroduced without fear of intimidation or persecution. Everyone here present today, is that voice for the revival. Freedom is never achieved without struggle. The map towards ending the oppression is in our hands.
The monopoly controlling the Global arena through manipulation of policies and global laws should be stopped. The exposure of reality versus propaganda in the media world. It’s this tool that the sly imperialist regimes use to justify their unjust actions in committing atrocities against weaker nations. Fake social media postings, selective news reporting and movie like print media reports is what has disrupted the human way of realization. Their arm of control in creating doubt needs to be dismantled. Credit goes to the countries who have banned certain American and Israeli social media platforms. That action is the first step towards destroying the unwanted imperialist influence.
The establishment of the Global civilizations’ initiative research center here in Turkey is a step towards achieving the transparency and accountability needed globally. We cannot continue to be celebrity podium speakers, we need to be heard and seen on the ground. What has been achieved from conferences held all over the world over a period of time, nothing, in fact the circus just got better for the clowns in charge. The current global crisis needs a reaction to the unjust action. These lawless thugs are destroying nations for their own benefits. Legit global and intercontinental initiatives and partnerships are threatened by bullying tactics from the Trump administration. Can we sit back and review global policies which are ignored by these transgressors before we initiate a reaction. We are witnessing destruction and millions of lives lost while we wait on the so-called global watch dogs to act. An action once again only in the form of words but no implementation.
The recent NATO summit held right here in Ankara gave a clear indication of the bias and controlling attitude of the USA and its allies. Pumping billions into military weapons whereas people are dying from starvation, lack of medical resources and basic human rights. The few who stood up against the NATO summit were arrested for legit protest but the guilty parties who are part of the atrocities committed are given end of summit gifts. What hypocrisy. World leaders need to be reminded that their mandates are from the people who placed them in power. Today they adopt the brain of the imperialist and make decisions based on satisfying their masters.
We currently witnessing a war that has started from lies and has escalated to the point where the entire globe is affected. It’s not only affecting the people in its path, but it has impacted on every individual in every country. The rising fuel prices, food costs sky rocketing, Electricity or energy increases. Ordinary people in the US, Canada, South Africa and across the continents are paying the price for a war they didn’t choose, and the irony is some haven’t even followed. Ordinary people have had their lives turned upside down and at what cost…..Trump and Netanyahu’s greed. This is the call for a global stand against this out-of-control lunatics.
The situation in Gaza and Lebanon seems to be escalating daily and nothing has been done to stop the Genocide. So called ceasefire agreements are manipulated to benefit the Zionist and US regimes. Resistance movements who fight with the limited resources at their disposal in defending their land are labeled as terrorists. Who are the true terrorists here. Innocent men, women and children are being targeted and killed just for looking for food. Where is the United Nations, the World Health Organization to take action against the bombing of hospitals, The International courts to ensure action is taken against the criminals. They are all barking dogs with no bite. We want a total global review of these organizations, intending for it to be restored so as to act and not be selective in how it carries out its mandate. No one country should be allowed to dictate terms to these organizations.
As you all aware South Africa successfully took Israel to the ICJ and were victorious in their application. The court issued provisional measures against Israel in January 2024. To date none has been adhered or respected. How are we to prevent future genocides if the laws are ignored. What is happening to Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Sudan and other oppressed countries can soon be happening in your own country if this is not stopped. The level of greed has risen to the extent that lives don’t matter. We need lives to matter again. We need the restoration of morals and ethics. You, I and we need to ensure we awaken the spirit of peace and respect. How you ask, we need to hold governments accountable for their reckless actions.
New developments over the past few days have not been positive and signs of an escalation in attacks against Iran and the fight for the Strait of Hormuz indicates tougher times are ahead. Peace talks played around like the captured FIFA world cup. Decisions again controlled and dictated by Trumps mood. MOAs signed and violated. How is the world to show respect for leaders allowing violations after agreements and negotiations. The time has come for the BRICS formation to be more active in its global role. Leaders of the nations strong enough to put an end to the threat of a full-blown war need to step up in a more assertive approach. Organizations need to up their game in building the Global shield of protection. This includes showing support to journalists targeted for exposing the truth, more active peaceful protests against governments acting recklessly, economic protests on Industries aiding the crimes against humanity and the availability of networks globally to establish one voice against acts of war.
South Africa is currently preparing for our local government elections to be held in November this year. The SACP has broken its alliance with the ANC to contest the elections as a party on its own. This change will have a major impact on the political sphere but more importantly it’s the revival of the SACP. A party in existence since 1921. The recent media coverage of events in South Africa is portraying a fake impression of xenophobia. This is a clear sign of the involvement of the Zionist to create instability in our country but more importantly to destroy relations between the African countries in the continent. Africa is now becoming more noticeable for its change and development in all sectors. China has a positive influence on the continent allowing more growth through investments and development programs. This is what the world needs. development, guidance and assistance in growing economies for the people, not wars to steal the resources of countries.
I want to extend my greetings to the organizers of this conference, the distinguished guests and to the people joining us from all over the world. I’ll apologize for maybe speaking a lot, but I’ll never apologize for standing up for the rights of the oppressed. Greetings from the SACP members to all and a warm South African thank you to the organizers. Let us all continue to work towards achieving what every person in the world wants, peace and an end to the continuous bullying by the USA and Israel. I offer my personal support to the established organization, and I end off by remembering and paying respect to the many innocent lives been lost every minute of every hour of every day. I also pay tribute my late brother who passed away after a sudden illness 6 weeks ago and I know he would say “no mission is impossible if you give yourself to do good for those who need it.”
Nelson Mandela said that we as South Africans are never free until Palestine is free. Today I ask you, Are you really free…..
Thank You.