Protesters in Cape Town called on the South African government to boycott, divest and sanction Israel. (Photo: Nura Thep, Palestine Chronicle)
Written by Nura Thep – Palestine Chronicle
“As long as children are being murdered by Israel’s apartheid regime, we have unfinished business.”
“As long as children are being killed in Gaza, we have unfinished business,” protesters in Cape Town said, calling for the South African government to boycott, divest and sanction Israel.
On Saturday, organizers of a large protest handed a memorandum to MPs calling for the adoption and enactment of the Apartheid Treaty Bill into law. This “allows states to mandate boycott, sanctions and divestment (BDS) against Israel by South Africans” and is mandatory. ”
Additionally, the bill would allow for the prosecution and punishment of “any person who practices and/or supports apartheid anywhere in the world.”
“As long as children are being murdered by the Israeli apartheid regime, we have unfinished business. As long as boycott, divestment and sanctions are not the law of South Africa, we have unfinished business.” ” said Reverend Alan Borsack, an anti-apartheid veteran and activist. said The crowd added: “And we will continue to raise this issue until everyone knows.”
Veteran anti-apartheid activist Dr Alan Boesack called on the South African government to sever diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, speaking at a protest in Cape Town on Saturday. , we have… pic.twitter.com/GCjjkMzcas
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 6, 2024
In November, the country’s parliament adopted a motion, with amendments approved by the ANC, calling on the government to close the Israeli embassy in South Africa and suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel.
But President Cyril Ramaphosa “refused to sign it,” Boesak said. “As long as he defies the will of Parliament and as long as he defies the will of the South African people, we have unfinished business.”
criticism of the government
Accepting the Memorandum and the Bill on behalf of Parliament, Supra Mahumapelo, Chair of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, assured the crowd that “when Parliament is approached by the people”, “in response to the Memorandum and the views of the right hon. If the public has time to give feedback, Congress cannot say no. ”
“Therefore, on behalf of the Speaker, I would like to ensure that the Speaker considers the memorandum in terms of the parliamentary rules and ensures that feedback is given to the leaders who brought us here today to table the memorandum. ” he added. .
“Because we know this is a people’s struggle, not just South Africa’s.”
In an interview with the Palestine Chronicle, Supra Mahumapelo, chair of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, responded to concerns that the South African government was not putting enough pressure on Israel.
A huge march was held towards the pic.twitter.com/zM9NTOwLcK
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 6, 2024
In an interview with the Palestine Chronicle, Mahumapelo acknowledged the criticism and concerns of those who say the government is “not moving fast enough.”
“We listen to them, we empathize with their views and we agree with them,” he said.
coal export
Among the concerns was South Africa’s coal exports to Israel.
According to the World Energy Trade Federation, South Africa has supplied Israel with “496.4 kilotons of coal since October 2023, accounting for 15% of Israel’s total coal consumption over the same period.”
Martin Jansen, head of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), one of the groups behind the memorandum, said coal provides “essential energy for the functioning of the regime, military apparatus and fascist Israeli society.” He said that. A bill was then submitted to Congress.
Colombia announced in August that it would suspend all coal exports to Israel, following an earlier decision to sever diplomatic relations with Israel due to Israel’s ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.
“As long as children are being killed in Gaza, we have unfinished business,” protesters in Cape Town said, calling for the South African government to boycott, divest and sanction Israel.
📹 Nurathep, Palestine Chronicle pic.twitter.com/LJPxANN32p
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 6, 2024
Protest organizers also called on the South African government to “invoke and implement United Nations Resolution 377A, a peaceful unity resolution against Israel that calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the genocide and daily terrorism against Palestinians and Lebanese people.” Syria, Yemen and other parts of the Middle East. ”
“Once peace is restored and Israel is placed under international control, historic Palestine will be placed under a United Nations mandate overseen by countries that have historically opposed Israel and the genocide of the Palestinian people in its colonies. ” they demanded.
They also called for “Zionism to be recognized as an illegal racist ideology and outlawed internationally.”
Diverse support
“Given the urgency” of the situation, organizers, including the PSC and the BDS-SA coalition, called on Congress to “provide weekly updates on the progress of passing the bill and all action points.”
The protests, attended by at least 5,000 people, were supported by South Africa’s various communities, including Muslims, Jews and Christians.
Jared Sachs of South African Jews for Palestinian Freedom (SAJFP) told the Palestine Chronicle that “there is no such thing as a legitimate nation-state” and that it is important to support Palestinian freedom. He said there is. pic.twitter.com/wwRWZmestl
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 6, 2024
“It’s important that we support the rights and equality of all human beings, not just as Jews, but as human beings,” said Jared Sachs of South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJP).
“There is no such thing as a legitimate nation-state. Therefore, we must support freedom for Palestine and the creation of one state for all,” Sacks told the Palestine Chronicle.
“Facts and Evidence” – South Africa says ICJ genocide case against Israel will continue
South Africa filed suit in late December, accusing Israel of breaching its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The defense team is expected to submit arguments in the case to the UN tribunal this month, amid reports that Israeli diplomats have been instructed to lobby US lawmakers to pressure South Africa to drop the case. .
(Palestinian Chronicle)
– Nurah Tape is a journalist based in South Africa. She is the editor of the Palestine Chronicle.
