Day: March 10, 2024

SOUTH AFRICA, A HOTBED OF HYPOCRISY

Set on being in the spotlight, South Africa should instead be seen in a dim light opting to exploit troubles abroad while ignoring them closer to home.

By David E. Kaplan

How should one read South Africa’s moral mindset when it champions the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and yet on its doorstep ignores jihadi attacks on its north-eastern border of Mozambique where more than 67,000 people have fled attacks in recent weeks?

“What is particularly of concern to UNICEF is that the majority of these displaced people are women and children, more than two-thirds of the total when combined,” said Guy Taylor, UNICEF’s (United Nations Children’s Fund) Mozambique spokesperson.

Northern Exposure. Tens of thousands flee new wave of jihadist attacks in Mozambique, a country on South Africa’s northern border.

What’s more, “the insurgency isn’t ending anytime soon,” says Jasmine Opperman, a Security Consultant specializing in Extremism and Political Violence in southern Africa. “This is about organised chaos to create fear, to recruit and spread an Islamic extremism narrative.”

Nary a murmur on this issue on its doorstep, but a half a world away, South Africa launches – basking in splendid media spotlight – a legal assault on Israel at the UN’s highest court at The Hague.

We should not be surprised.

For a variety of reasons all comfortably closeted in self-interest, South Africa choses to be in the terrorist camp as evidenced by revelations that South Africa today is now “a nerve centre for jihadist financing.”

Aiming to Displease. Analysts and counter-terrorism experts have described South Africa as a nerve centre for jihadist financing in Africa.

“South Africa is open hunting ground,” the Pretoria-based counter-terrorism expert Jasmine Opperman told Agence France-Presse.

Islamist financiers gather money in the country and transfer it into “the hands of terrorism,” she said, adding it was internationally recognised “that we are now a hub.”

Opperman’s assessment is widely shared by analysts across Africa, Europe and the United States.

Red flags were first raised in 2023 when the US government levied sanctions on several South Africans it accused of belonging to an Islamic State (IS) cell. According to Washington, money was being transmitted out of South Africa to IS branches across Africa. According to the US treasury in November, IS was being provided from South Africa with “technical, financial, or material support.”

Hand It to Terror. Pretoria-based counter-terrorism expert Jasmine Opperman says Islamist financiers gather money in South Africa and transfer it into “the hands of terrorism.”

In March last year, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global illicit cash flow watchdog that aims to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, placed South Africa on its “grey list” finding that South Africa today is “a fertile ground” for Islamists to raise funds.

The Money Trail. Intelligence evidence suggests that Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab used South Africa to move funds after the 2013 attack on Westgate mall in Kenya’s capital by Islamists terrorists. (Photo: Kenyan Presidential Press Service/Getty Images)

“South Africa’s role in international terrorism dates back more than a decade,” says Ryan Cummings an analyst with the Cape Town based Signal Risk security advisory firm. He cited intelligence evidence that suggested Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab used South Africa to move funds after the 2013 attack on the Westgate mall in Kenya’s capital.

Desperate for Answers. Poster of the most wanted Al-Shabaab leaders at the US Embassy in Nairobi, November 2022 (Photo: Simon MAINA / AFP)

There are also reports, said Cummings of “an increase of funds… flowing from South Africa” to Mozambique and an ISIS affiliate in the DR Congo.

Christians on the Run. Where is South Africa’s concern as Christians call for peace amidst attacks by jihadist insurgents in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado that are forcing priests, nuns and other Church workers to flee to cities already overwhelmed by internally displaced people (IDPs).

TERRORISM IS ‘BANKING’ ON SOUTH AFRICA

Is it any further surprise that banks in South Africa may be – unwittingly or not – facilitating payments to Hamas and affiliated organizations. Uncovered in a recent Jerusalem Post investigative report , there appears to be a network of several South African organizations deeply involved in Hamas funding. According to the researched report, three of the country’s main banks, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and Absa, were accused of enabling funding for Hamas activities through the Al-Quds Foundation, an international group sanctioned by the US and outlawed by Israel. Through the cunning guise of charity, the Al-Quds International Foundation  was established in Beirut in 2021 by members of Hamas to raise funds for their terror organization.

Sign of the Times. This sign displayed to greet South Africa’s returning from The Hague Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola at OR Tambo International airport, Johannesburg on January 14, 2024, depicts the ANC’s government commitment to be party to the end of Jewish life in Israel.  (Photo: Alet Pretorius/Reuters)

So grave is this development, especially since the massacre of October 7, the taking and still holding of hostages and the war that has followed, South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, Warren Goldstein, has written to the CEOs of these banks appealing for them:

 “To come and see me to provide assurance and proof that these allegations are without merit.”

Rabbi’s Rebuke. South Africa’s chief rabbi, Warren Goldstein pledges to hold banks accountable for funding Hamas. (Photo: screenshot)

In muscular mode – “This is not 1938. It is 2024” – the Chief Rabbi says that failing their cooperation, he has warned the banks that “there are numerous local criminal and international anti-terror laws here that they may be contravening. I will personally pursue this case on every forum to hold them accountable.”

If South Africa can lay false charges of genocide against the Jewish state at the Hague, it should not be surprised if it too finds itself facing real charges on complicity in international terrorism resulting in mass murder and massacre of Jews.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)

MORAL MISTEPS

South Africa’s response in navigating the October 7 massacres in southern Israel

By Tim Flack

The aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel has unfolded a deeply troubling narrative, marked by the brutal use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. This dark chapter, involving Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other groups, left around 1,200 dead and led to the kidnapping of 240 hostages into Gaza. What has emerged from the United Nations Commission of Inquiry’s findings is not just a tale of widespread devastation but a shocking exposé of war crimes, with sexual violence at its grim core.

Human Prey. A young woman flees Hamas attackers at the Nova Music Festival the music festival.

Imagine a music festival turned into a nightmare scenario, where young attendees faced unimaginable horrors. The Nova Music Festival, with about 3,500 young people, turned into a site of mass murder and sexual assault, including gang rapes and the desecration of corpses. Then, there’s Road 232, a supposed escape that instead bore witness to severe injuries and evidence of sexual violence, including signs of rape and mutilation. And in the kibbutzim close to Gaza’s perimeter, such as Re’im, Be’eri, and Kfar Aza, survivors recount tales of rape and sexualized violence.

Hamas’ Horror. Israel’s Supernova festival celebrated music and unity. Instead, it turned into the deadliest concert attack in history.

Even the military wasn’t spared, with reports of sexual violence against both male and female soldiers at the Nahal Oz military base. The horror extended to the hostages taken to Gaza, with firsthand accounts of rape, sexualized torture, and inhumane treatment painting a grim picture of sexual violence as a deliberate tool of war, meant to terrorize and dehumanize.

The global reaction to these revelations has been mixed. While some condemned these acts swiftly, others have been slower to react, raising questions about the commitment to preventing war crimes and sexual violence in conflict zones. South Africa, in particular, finds itself in a contentious spot. Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s condemnation of the Hamas assault, his gestures of solidarity with the Palestinians have sparked debate. Additionally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor‘s interactions with Hamas and her visits to Iran and Qatar, have drawn criticism, raising concerns over South Africa’s impartiality in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

South Africa has a history of openly siding with Palestinian terrorists, inviting members of their terror organizations to visit South Africa on multiple occasions. In 2015, South Africa welcomed a high-profile visit from Hamas. The delegation was led by Khaled Meshaal, the then-leader of Hamas, who met with South African President Jacob Zuma and other top officials. This visit was a significant event, as it marked the first time a Hamas leader had visited South Africa since the country’s transition to democracy in 1994. In 2023, South Africa hosted a controversial visit from Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), both of which are designated as terrorist organizations by several countries.

Hosting Hamas. At a rally in Hamas’s honour in Cape Town, South Africa on October 21, 2015, Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal told a crowd of several hundred supporters waving Hamas’s white-and-green flags that “the uprisings shall continue until … the land is for Palestine and its people.” (AFP/Rodger Bosch)

The purpose of the visit was to participate in the fifth Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine, which aimed to strengthen international support for the Palestinian cause. The delegation from Hamas included Dr. Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, the group’s representative in Iran. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and its prominent member Leila Khaled have made several visits to South Africa in recent years. Khaled, a Palestinian political activist and former plane hijacker, has been warmly welcomed by South African officials and organizations.

The juxtaposition of condemning violence while showing solidarity with terrorist organizations, and the controversy around Minister Pandor’s actions, highlights the complexity of South Africa’s stance. It’s a delicate balance, requiring a clear condemnation of all forms of violence, including sexual violence, and a commitment to justice for the victims.

Human Prey. A young woman flees Hamas attackers at the Nova Music Festival the music festival.

The need for South Africa – and indeed, the world – to reassess diplomatic engagements and public statements to align with human rights principles is clear. Engaging with all parties in the conflict demands a delicate balance, emphasizing the need to end violence, pursue dialogue, and seek a peaceful resolution, all while taking a firm stance against violence against civilians.

As we grapple with the atrocities of October 7, the implications for international relations and human rights advocacy are profound. It’s a moment that calls for not only immediate action but also a deep reflection on the frameworks for international engagement in conflict zones. For South Africa, this is a test of its commitment to human rights and impartiality, demanding a nuanced, yet firm stance against violence and injustice. This situation underscores the imperative for all nations to stand unequivocally against the use of sexual violence in conflict and to work towards a world where the dignity and rights of every individual are respected and protected.

Among the myriad of reactions, the roles of South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor have come under scrutiny. Their actions and statements post-massacre and abduction of hostages have sparked debate, particularly in the context of international diplomacy and human rights advocacy.

Given the gravity of the situation and the critical need for global leaders to stand united against such atrocities, it is imperative to seek clarity and accountability from those in positions of power. Therefore, we turn our attention to President Ramaphosa and Minister Pandor, asking for their response to the harrowing revelations made by the UN Commission.

Embracing Killers. Just weeks after Israel suffered on 7 October the gravest act of mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, the Hamas killer’s leaders (seen here in Cape Town’s Waterfront) were warmly welcomed by representatives of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the Anglican Church, civil society groups, and the Palestine solidarity movement.

What needs to be asked of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, and President Ramaphosa:

Acknowledgment of the Report:

  • How do you respond to the UN Commission’s findings, especially regarding the heinous use of sexual violence as a weapon of war during the October 7 attacks? What steps are you taking to ensure South Africa’s voice is heard in the global condemnation of these acts?

Diplomatic Stance and Actions:

  • In light of the criticisms regarding South Africa’s response and diplomatic engagements following the attacks, how do you justify the balance between showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemning acts of violence unequivocally, including sexual violence?

Implications for South Africa’s Foreign Policy:

  • How will the findings of the report influence South Africa’s foreign policy and its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict moving forward? Is there a reassessment underway to ensure that South Africa’s engagements and public statements are aligned with the principles of human rights and justice?

Support for the Victims:

  • What measures is South Africa willing to advocate for or implement at the international level to support the victims of these crimes, ensuring they receive justice and the necessary support to rebuild their lives?

Preventing Future Atrocities:

  • Given the strategic use of sexual violence as a terror tool in conflicts, what proactive steps does South Africa propose the international community should take to prevent such atrocities in future conflicts?

The answers to these questions are crucial not only for understanding South Africa’s position and actions in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks but also for gauging the commitment of its leadership to upholding and advocating for human rights on the global stage. The world watches and waits for a response that not only addresses these pressing inquiries but also demonstrates a resolve to combat sexual violence in conflict, and work towards a lasting peace and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While the world ‘watches and waits’, the world should also note that the rate of sexual violence in South Africa is among the highest recorded in the world. Interpol has named South Africa the “Rape Capital of the World”.


About the writer:

Tim Flack is the CEO and Head of Comms and Public Relations and founder of Flack Partners PR, a boutique public relations firm in Cape Town, South Africa. Tim specialises in providing tailored communication strategies for businesses in the political, safety and security, and small business fields.






While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO)