Category: Israel- South Africa relations

SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD TREAD VERY CAREFULLY WHEN IT COMES TO JIHADIST TERRORISM

Why should a minority foreign import be allowed to determine the future of the majority?

By Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe

I was taken aback by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) when it accepted the application of the Shariah-based political party called the Islamic State of Africa (ISA). This application was forwarded by a man who is not new to controversy. Farhad Hoomer was arrested in 2018 after he was accused of being involved in the deadly attack at the Imam Hussain Mosque in Verulam,  a town 24 kilometres north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, however, his charges were later withdrawn.

The name Islamic State of Africa raises a serious concern as it suggests that Hoomer may be associated with Islamic State (ISIS or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations (UN) and many countries around the world, including Muslim countries.

Hoodlum Hoomer. Farhad Hoomer and four others were arrested at a warehouse in Mayville, Durban in June 2021 where police seized more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, handguns, an AK-47, a bolt action rifle with a scope and a cellphone jammer. Charges were later dropped against Hoomer and his co-accused. (Photos: SAPS)

This terrorist organisation needs no introduction in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as it continues to cause chaos in Mozambique where South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been involved to stop the Jihadi terrorism unleashed by a group known as Islamic State of Mozambique (ISM).

The accusations by some Western politicians that Africa  – to some extent – is an enabler of growing terrorism on the continent could be true. Countries such as Sudan and Chad have allowed the Islamic organisations to operate in their countries, at times offering their countries as covers for wanted terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden.

The ideology and political aims of South Africa’s new party, ISA, does not in any way align with the country’s constitution. Just as the founder, Hooker, has said, its constitution makes it very clear that it will implement Shariah law – a legal and moral framework within Islam derived from the Quran and Islamic tradition. The chaotic scenes deriving from the Middle East and Asia are entirely caused by the proponents of this belief, who are convinced that the whole world should be forced, through violence, to follow Islam. 

Farhad has visions of getting far ahead. Durban businessperson Farhad Hoomer – accused by the US of leading an “Isis cell” – denies being a terrorist but says his goal is the establishment of an Islamic caliphate and he is willing to take up arms to achieve his goals. He sees democracy as a form of “evil, tyranny and enslavement”. 
 

What Hoomer should understand is that South Africa is and will forever remain a secular state, which has a greater respect for all religions and has always allowed everyone to practice their religion. Section 15 of the South African Constitution guarantees to all the “freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, and opinion.” With South Africa being a predominantly Christian country – a legacy due to its colonial past – it is not nor will ever be a religious state. From this vantage point, it does not make sense that a minority Islamic sect could be allowed to determine the future of the majority. 

Spearheading Sharia. Farhad Hoomer who wants his new political party, the Islamic State of Africa (ISA), to be part of South Africa’s political landscape said in an interview with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime “Will I fight for Sharia? I would say yes.”
 

The concern here is not whether this Sharia-based party’s application to the Electoral Commission would be approved or that Hoomer may not even get a parliamentary seat, but about the principle. The IEC was not supposed to even entertain the application of Farhad Hooler which would be a green light to import violence to South Africa. Just on our doorsteps in Mozambique, our brothers and sisters are terrorised by similar Islamic groups. 

South Africa is also harbouring immigrants and refugees who are running away from the Middle East and African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Nigeria, and many others.

Potential Import. In South Africa’s northern neighbour Mozambique, residents near Macomia in Cabo Delgado province, gather after their village was attacked in 2024 by the Islamic State group. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

According to the Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI), South Africa has been and remains a source of funding for many terror activities across the African continent. There are Islamic State-loyal cells inside our country who are acting as middlemen by consolidating all the funds from all related terror organisations to generate income. MEARI further observes that Somalia and South Africa are financial hubs of all Islamic State cells or provinces as they are called, the money is then pooled inside South Africa and laundered across East Africa through an intricate network that finances the Islamic State’s activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

Frying Pan into the Fire. Fleeing civil wars, these refugees from Somalia, the DRC and Burundi camp outside the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa in 2019 fearing for their lives due to local xenophobia. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp)

Recent terrorist encounters in Djibouti and Mozambique should sound alarm bells for South Africa to neither associate nor tolerate any Islamic State related organisations to operate on its soil. To do so will only create a conducive environment for radical Islamic terrorism to thrive in a country that has absorbed so many illegal migrants from across the African continent.

On a matter of principle, South Africa’s Electoral Commission should not have entertained the application of ISA whose party platform is both foreign to South Africa’s political, cultural and social ethos and most certainly at odds with the country’s internationally acclaimed liberal constitution.

As much as we respect religious nations, we are not a religious state and do not wish to become one.

Islamic State of Africa eyes 2026 LGE: Farhad Hoomer
https://www.youtube.com/embed/yIKTYw_WyCE





About the writer:

Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe is a political writer and researcher based at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.








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).

SOUTH AFRICA’S CONDUCT IN COURT – SECRECY AND SHENANIGANS

ICJ finds serious procedural violations in South Africa’s submission against Israel that should be acting with integrity and transparency not procedural violations, hearsay ‘evidence’ and secrecy.

By Craig Snoyman

(*First appeared under different title in the SAJR)

Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a curious decision – one that the South African legacy media has largely ignored. Instead of holding Israel to filing its answer to South Africa’s case by the original deadline of 28 July 2025, the court granted a massive extension, to 28 January 2026.

On the face of it, this does not appear to be significant. But looking beneath the surface, there are serious implications for South Africa.

Funding the initial application: Why don’t we know where the money came from?

After South Africa instituted its application against Israel, alleging that it was committing genocide, speculation swirled about who was funding the case. After a lengthy silence, the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, stated in Parliament in December 2024 that South Africa was allocating a further R95 million to pursue the costs of the memorial (the founding case) at the ICJ. What remains unstated, and which the legacy media no longer questions, is who financed the initial application for preventative measures, which is distinguishable from the memorial. Credible sources such as the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy suggested that this funding came from Iran, and possibly Qatar as well. While the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said that the government had paid for it, Godongwana was more circumspect, dealing only with the memorial. The problem with this is that two years down the line there are still no financial records showing that any South African ministry either paid for, or budgeted for, the initial application.

Colourful Charade. South African lawyer Adila Hassim (left), South Africa’s justice minister Ronald Lamola (centre) and ambassador to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela at the International Court of Justice on Thursday. (Photo: EPA-EFE/Remko de Waal)

Professor John Dugard, the de facto leader of the South African legal team, refused to give a straight answer, merely stating that:

 “…allegations of covert funding are politically charged but legally irrelevant. The ICJ assesses cases on merits, not on financial origins.”

The suspicion that the government is either concealing information from its voting public or misrepresenting the position remains.

While doubts persist about the government and the initial funding, there was never a question about the capability of the South African legal team. This was the “A Team” – South Africa’s best silks and highly qualified and experienced international jurists. But with last week’s ICJ order this, too, needs to be looked at more closely.

The memorial submission: A legal battle shrouded in secrecy

The first substantive step in the case to prove that Israel has violated the Genocide Convention was the submission of a memorial detailing the genocide allegations. This memorial came at the hefty price of tens of millions of rand, and a substantial amount of it was used for investigation and legal fees. South Africa’s memorial amounted to a monumental 750 pages, accompanied by more than 4 000 pages of exhibits and annexes, setting out its evidence against Israel, including accusations of forced displacement, starvation, and mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

However, in keeping with ICJ protocol, memorials are not made public, and so South Africa’s memorial content remains locked away from public scrutiny. Israel was obligated to submit its counter-memorial (its defence) by 28 July 2025, approximately six months after the filing of the memorial. That deadline has now taken a dramatic turn.

A stunning ICJ ruling: SA exposed for serious procedural violations

The ICJ, after considering both South Africa’s and Israel’s submissions, ordered that Israel need only file its counter-memorial next year. This postponement to allow Israel to file its response (adding 9 months to the time given to respond), suggests that the ICJ found serious procedural violations in South Africa’s submission.

Vague at The Hague. Distracting attention away from its own abysmal record, (South Africa’s murder rate of 45 per 100,000 (2023/24) is the second highest for countries that publish crime data), it pursues Israel on unsubstantiated charges at The Hague. Seen here is a rather bored South African ambassador to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela checking his phone during a hearing at the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands, January 12, 2024. (Patrick Post/AP)

Reliable leaks from “Western diplomats” have elaborated on the court’s order concerning the averment that “the counter-memorial had been significantly impeded because of a range of evidentiary issues that had arisen in connection with the memorial of the Republic of South Africa and in light of which the scope of the case remained unclear”. These leaks have now also been independently verified. In layman’s terms, South Africa is playing evidential hide-and-seek with Israel’s legal team. The diplomatic sources, and as verified by Israeli Professor Eugene Kontorovich and former Israeli Ambassador and an expert in international law, Alan Baker, state that South Africa submitted crucial evidence but concealed it from Israel, and it has submitted numerous unsubstantiated hearsay testimonies stemming from Hamas sources. South Africa’s response implicitly acknowledged that there was fire below the smoke responding that:

 “…the evidentiary issues raised concerned a limited number of documents and could in no way prejudice the respondent in the preparation of its case”.

For the “A Team” to pursue justice dishonestly would betray the very principle of justice itself and South Africa’s image as this benevolent pursuer of human rights. South Africa should be acting with integrity, transparency, and rigorous evidence – not through procedural violations, unreliable hearsay evidence, and secrecy. It should not be left to Israel to make sense of South Africa’s mess.

As any first-year law student would know, in these circumstances, this would be a violation of fundamental legal principles, coupled with an inability to prove that Israel has committed “genocide” as accepted by the Genocide Convention. My law professor once said my essays were neither quantitative nor qualitative. It seems the ICJ has viewed South Africa’s procedural irregularities in a similar vein. Its response has been to give South Africa a virtual harsh slap across the face.

Killing Kids. The massacre in Israel that began the hostilities is irrelevant to South Africa. This photo of children’s toys and personal items lying on the bloodstained floor of a child’s bedroom, following the murderous attack by Hamas gunmen in Kibbutz Beeri on October 7 would probably solicit a yawn from South Africa’s ‘illustrious’ legal team. (Photo: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)

A fiasco at the ‘expense’ of South Africa

With a government refusing to clarify who financed the initial application, and the “A Team” seemingly committing basic legal errors, South Africa’s financial and legal missteps are costing the nation dearly. At a time when South Africa is feeling international political heat, legal egg on the face is not what is needed now. If the case for genocide lacks the legal foundation and it doesn’t have the evidence, then South Africa must stop throwing millions into a losing battle. Justice demands more than passion. It demands precision. And right now, South Africa may not be offering either.



About the writer:

Craig Snoyman is a practising advocate in South Africa.





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).

‘PICK n PAY’ PANICS

A modest Passover products display at a South African Pick n Pay leads to antisemitic rage and the Johannesburg supermarket’s surrender.

By Tim Flack

Let’s not sugar-coat this.

I’m not Jewish. Never claimed to be. But I’ll be damned if I stand by while open antisemitism gets paraded as activism in the middle of a grocery store. What happened at Pick n Pay Norwood on 11 April wasn’t protest. It was targeted harassment, and anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows it.

Propping up Jew-Hatred. When Pick n Pay took down its props indicating where the kosher-for-Pesach section was in the Norwood Mall before the festival, the Jewish community was shocked and angry, questioning how this could happen at a store with one of the biggest and most loyal kosher customer bases.

This wasn’t about foreign policy or the Gaza war. It wasn’t about challenging so-called Israeli aggression. It was about matzah and kosher grape juice. That’s it. A display of basic Passover products in the kosher section of a supermarket was turned into a battlefield by a group of attention-seekers who think yelling “genocide” into an iPhone makes them freedom fighters.

The kosher section featured traditional food items used during Passover, alongside symbols of Jewish identity, the colour blue, known as tekhelet, and the Star of David. That was enough to send the mob into a meltdown. Why? Because in their minds, even existing as a Jew is now a provocation.

Let’s set the record straight.

The Star of David is not a Zionist logo. It’s a Jewish symbol. Full stop. It predates the modern State of Israel by centuries. It’s etched into synagogues, stitched into prayer shawls, and engraved on gravestones around the world. Calling it controversial because it appeared next to matzah on a shelf is not political critique. Its antisemitism dressed up as moral outrage.

Uproar to Uprooting. Staging a protest inside the Norwood store on 11 April, the BDS Movement and its cohorts objected to the inclusion of what they called “Israeli imagery,” specifically a national flag and the Star of David, and demanded their removal resulting in the store removing the ‘offensive’ signs.

Pick n Pay stocks Halaal food (allowed under Islamic law) year-round. It runs specials during Ramadan. It marks Diwali – the Hindu ‘Festival of Lights’. It hangs tinsel and puts up Christmas trees in December. Nobody complains. Nobody stages a protest in the bakery aisle over hot cross buns. But when Jewish South Africans get a small, modest display for Passover, out come the hashtags and the rage. The double standard is blinding.

Norwood has a long-standing Jewish community. These products are local staples. It’s not some Zionist plot to destabilise South Africa. It’s people buying the food their families have eaten for millennia during one of the holiest times of the year.

And let’s not ignore the obvious. If this were any other religious group, the outrage would be instant. Imagine someone tearing down a Ramadan display and accusing Muslims of terrorism. They’d be charged with hate speech before they made it out the parking lot. But when it happens to Jews? It’s uploaded to Instagram with a filter and a “Free Palestine” slogan.

There is a clear line between political dissent and religious discrimination. That line was bulldozed at Pick n Pay Norwood. BDS and its affiliates don’t care about nuance, coexistence, or real solutions. They care about vilifying Jews under the false flag of human rights.

It’s time we called this what it is: an attack on Jewish life in South Africa.

What lies in ‘store’? The knee-jerk reaction of the Pick n Pay store taking down the Pesach décor apparently began when SA actor, writer, and radio and television personality, Eric Miyeni posted on social media that he would never shop at Pick n Pay again because of its Pesach display featuring Magen Davids and blue and white ribbons. Miyeni’s post went viral stirring an antisemitic rage against the “symbols of Judaism” but felt “vindicated” when the decorations were removed.

WHICH WAY PICK n PAY?

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies is right to demand an apology. Not because they want extra privileges, but because they want equal treatment. Jewish families should be able to shop in peace without being shouted at by strangers armed with smartphones and slogans.

Pick n Pay has a decision to make. Either it stands for all South Africans or it allows bigotry to masquerade as political activism. There is no middle ground here.

Apologise. Clarify your position. Reinforce that your stores are places of inclusion, not platforms for intimidation.

Because once you legitimise this kind of behaviour, it doesn’t stop with one community. Today it was the Jews. Tomorrow, it could be anyone.



About the writer:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-32.png

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)

AN UNEXPECTED FIFTH SON

A first encounter at a Passover seder left this Capetonian enriched by the experience.

By Tim Flack

This year, I found myself at a Passover Seder table for the first time in my life. I hadn’t planned on it. A kind friend asked if I had ever been to one – not being Jewish – and when I said no, she quietly arranged for me to attend the annual Seder at the Gardens Shul.

I knew that the Gardens Shul – also known as the Great Synagogue – had been established in 1841, making it the oldest Jewish congregation in South Africa.

The Garden Shul in Cape Town, South Africa with Table Mountain to the right.
 

I went alone, and to be honest, I was nervous. I had never been to a synagogue before. I went through the necessary security checks and felt completely out of place. I’m a big guy in a white kippah sruga (knitted yarmulke/skullcap) and a star of David on it, (I picked this kippah because I’m an unashamed Zionist, but that’s another story) with a yellow ribbon pinned to my shirt and a full Japanese tattoo sleeve. I knew I stood out.

I made my way up the stairs to the Seder Hall and sat at the first table I saw with open seats. There were two couples sitting there, around my age, and they welcomed me warmly. Just as I sat down, my blood sugar dropped sharply. I’m diabetic, so I explained what was happening. Someone quickly handed me grape juice and some water, and I managed to stabilize. That small act of kindness set the tone for the entire evening.

The Seder was led by Rabbi Osher, and I listened and took part in a tradition that has been observed for more than 3,000 years. I was quietly taking it all in and trying my best to follow, we had gotten to the 4 sons, someone leaned over during the reading and said something that stopped me in my tracks. They said, “You’re the Fifth Son.” I didn’t know what that meant entirely, I do now.

Inside the Gardens Shul, Cape Town.

If you know the Passover Haggadah, you’ll know it speaks of four sons. The wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who does not know how to ask. But there is also a powerful teaching from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. He spoke of a Fifth Son, the one who is not at the table at all.

He may be disconnected, unaffiliated, uncertain if he belongs, or unaware there’s even a place for him. The Rebbe taught that it is not enough to engage with those already present. That there is a responsibility to reach out to those who are absent, to find the Fifth Son and bring him in, regardless of background or circumstance. It is an act of inclusion, of compassion, and of spiritual responsibility.

That night, I was that son. Not because I was missing, but because someone made sure I was invited. It truly was special.

Preparing the tables for a Passover seder at the Gardens Shul.

Rabbi Osher and his wife introduced themselves to me and were incredibly welcoming. So was everyone else I met. There was no suspicion. No hesitation. Just warmth and generosity. I came in quietly, and I left quietly, but I will never forget being welcomed into something so meaningful and sacred.

To the couples that allowed me to sit with them, thank you for making me feel like I belonged. To the Gardens Shul community, thank you for allowing me to be part of such an important tradition.

I may have slipped in and out of the room quietly. But I will always stand with the Jewish people. Your story, your values, and your courage have left a mark on me.

You have a friend in me. Always.



*Feature picture: The Garden Shul in Cape Town, South Africa with Table Mountain to the right.





About the writer:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-32.png

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)

SOUTH AFRICA TRYING TO MAKE IT A CRIME TO VISIT ISRAEL

The true crime would be the fragility of a democracy that fails to allow its people to make up their own mind.

By Kenneth Mokgatlhe wa Kgwadi

As a Black South African who has spent almost a year studying in Israel’s Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), I can surely decide for myself what is true and what is not. I know when a lie is being perpetuated to fulfil a political goal, especially in my home country of South Africa. It is for this reason that I applaud everyone who visits Israel to see for themselves what is happening.

Seeing is Believing. Seeing for themselves life in a country currently involved in a defensive war, are South African parliamentary members,  Ashley Sauls and Millicent Mathopa posing outside a building in Tel Aviv. They were part of a 9-member parliamentary fact-finding mission to Israel. (Photo: Facebook)

So why the big hullabaloo over a group of South African members of parliament that included members of the DA (Democratic Alliance) and the PA (Patriotic Alliance) both of whom are in the governing coalition with the ANC as well as the ACDP (African Christian Democratic Party), who visited Israel recently on a fact-finding mission? It is being portrayed in some quarters – notably the EFF(Economic Freedom Fighters) –  as nothing less than:

 “…a betrayal of South Africans and Palestinians.”

What nonsense.

The Israel-hate being fueled in South Africa is now so obsessive, with the EFF even demanding these well-meaning lawmakers,  who can be accused of nothing more than having enquiring independent minds, to have “their diplomatic privileges suspended pending investigation.”

Seeing Red. The EFF, founded and presently led by Julius Melema (above) is not backing down on their calls for an investigation into the recent fact-finding mission by Members of Parliament from the DA, Patriotic Alliance (PA), and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) to Israel, describing it as “disgraceful and treasonous”.

What is unfolding in South Africa vis-à-vis the manipulation of attitudes towards Israel reminds me of the disturbing line of Joseph Goebbels that “Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident that they are acting on their free will.” It does not augur well that there are people who demand that others should be barred from taking trips to Israel for either fact-finding missions, leisure or business. The hatred  – and it is hatred – being orchestrated in South Africa against Israel or the Jewish people is undermining rational thought. Why vilify people who want to see with their own eyes the claims made against Israel by its enemies? Why should we expect people to believe stories they are told by those who have never been to the Middle East region and seen the situation for themselves? 

In any conflict situation, where propaganda is used as a tool to shape public perception of a dispute, it becomes important for lawmakers, researchers, journalists, academics, and other opinion makers to embark on fact-finding missions in order to objectively formulate their own opinions. There was no wrongdoing on the part of South Africa’s MPs who decided to visit Israel/Palestine to see and hear for themselves; to expose themselves to the reality – facts on the ground. Not only should we not vilify but we should encourage many others to follow this path of personal visits – to see and ask all the questions they want. Let them see for themselves whether there are other perspectives that are maybe contrary to the anti-Israel narrative aggressively projected by the ruling ANC party.

Not all Hostile. In contrast to the antagonistic position that the SA government has taken against Israel since the October 7 war began, a DiploAct delegation from South Africa of Christian, traditional, and political leaders (seen here at Ben Gurion Airport) visited Israel in 2024. Said visiting radio personality Bafana Modise: “We are horrified by the events of October 7,” and expressed disappointment in his government that had approached other conflicts “with reconciliation, but on this issue, they acted hostile.”

It’s no secret that we are living in an age of mis-and disinformation peddled to advance political causes. One of the mass media methodologies, referred to as “framing”, exposes how the media can shape how audiences understand and interpret events. We see this explicitly in the Israel-Palestine conflict whereby the international media takes sides and then escalates tensions by identifying the “victim” while isolating the “bad guy”.  Biased and imbalanced, the reportage and commentary, inflames and exacerbates tensions. This explains the hullabaloo created by Israel-bashers in South Africa over the recent visit to Israel of the South African MPs. These accusers are maliciously calling for the Honorable Members to be treated like criminals who they believe offended South Africa by visiting Israel. How is this even possible? 

It is important to remember that in South Africa’s last national election in 2024, the ANC for the first time lost its majority and that the current government is made up of more than 10 political parties with different policies as well as varying perspectives when it comes to the Israel-Palestine impasse. Unlike the ANC, these parties are not fixated on a one-sided antagonistic hate towards Israel, and we should allow, enable and encourage a diversity of ideas to thrive in adherence to the principals of our democracy. The ANC cannot and does not have powers to tell other parties what political beliefs to uphold – they are independent parties.

“Political earthquake” – IRR polling shows DA above ANC for the first time

It is time for fellow South Africans to realise that the ANC’s hostility towards Israel does not represent the majority of our people’s views. It remains government policy for only so long as the ANC remains in power, and that may well change heading into the next election cycle as indicated by latest polling. The shameful reaction in some quarters to the MP fact-finding mission to Israel, is contrary to the principles of a mature and secure democracy. Do not treat the people like empty vessels to be told what to think and believe. We are quite capable to arrive at our own judgements and the fact-finding mission to Israel was no more and no less than representatives of our leadership to be exposed to the complex political landscape of the Israel Palestine conflict.  Is South Africa’s democracy so fragile to understand this?

I hope not.



*Feature picture: Members of the multi-party South African delegation – including those sitting in the governing coalition – meet with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem while on a fact-finding mission to Israel. (Photo: South African Friends of Israel).







About the writer:

Kenneth Mokgatlhe wa Kgwadi is an independent writer, political analyst and researcher. He is doing his MA in African Studies at the Israeli-based Ben Gurion University of the Negev.








*Feature picture: Members of the multi-party South African delegation – including those sitting in the governing coalition – meet with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem while on a fact-finding mission to Israel. (Photo: South African Friends of Israel)





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).

POOR DECISION-MAKING HARMS SOUTH AFRICA’S POOR

An obsession with undermining Israel is undermining the very wellbeing of South Africa’s people

By Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe

In a rapidly changing world, South Africa’s foreign policy has failed to prioritize its national interest. This is in contrast to most other countries, including such allies as China, Russia, and India, which use their foreign policies to serve their interests, not those of other countries.

The late US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who is reputed to have largely shaped his country’s foreign policy, once said:

 “The test of policy is how it ends, not how it begins. Foreign policy is the art of establishing priorities. Demonisation is not a policy; it is an alibi for the absence of one. The test is not absolute satisfaction but balanced dissatisfaction.”

Kissinger further argued that “a country that demands moral perfection in its foreign policy will achieve neither perfection nor security.”

It seems that it has not yet dawned on South Africa’s foreign affairs minister, Ronald Lamola, that the US has taken a hard stance against South Africa for its position on the Israel-Palestine question. It was a given that there would be  – with the new US administration – political, economic, and social implications for South Africa’s decision to launch a lawfare campaign against the State of Israel. It is, however, myopic on the ANC’s part to have expected to have it both ways, that is, to maintain their relationships with the East and the West while aggressively harassing Israel, which aligns with the latter. 

Aiming to Displease. President Ramaphosa’s policies against Israel (seen here with the iconic Palestinian keffiyeh) has according to the writer, mostly harmed South Africa. The latest Trump tariffs are the latest example.

There is no doubt that the South African government fails to see its poor people – those who are without water, housing, roads, food, and other vital facilities – when they decide on the direction of the country’s foreign policy. It is not Lamola, Cyril Ramaphosa, or other rich politicians from the ANC who are going to suffer the economic and political consequences of South Africa’s actions against the national interest of the US. Rather, it is South Africa’s poor who are already paying the price. For example, the withdrawal of various US funding programmes to South Africa has already started to impede HIV/TB research projects, which is expected to undo all the gains that have been made over the years.

At Loggerheads. Trump has also threatened to cut aid to South Africa in response to the country’s land expropriation policies, which Trump claims involve land confiscation.

In its bid to advance its foreign policy, the SA government failed to conduct a risk analysis of the implications its actions might have on NGOs that rely heavily on US funding. The withdrawal of this funding could ultimately lead to NGOs shutting down or downscaling, which in turn means putting more strain on the public sector as the many beneficiaries of these organisations could be left without essential services. It would also see an increase in unemployment rates. 

“Charity begins at home” should be a stance which guides our foreign policy. It is incomprehensible that South Africa would want to assume the position of being hailed as a saviour and hero within the international community while its people are at risk of dying of poverty, hunger and a lack of sufficient medications for those suffering from chronic conditions. 

Akin to the sentiments that Kissinger would later articulate, US president John F. Kennedy said,
“Domestic policy can only defeat us; foreign policy can kill us”. What South Africa is currently doing – meddling – in the Middle East region can only worsen the state of the declining economy because of poor decision making. That powerful Arab countries in the Middle East and Africa have been careful about what they say and what they do should have signaled to South Africa not to have dragged Israel into the International Court of Justice (ICJ). So, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan endeavor to play an active role alongside the US to find a long-lasting solution to the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine, South Africa saw fit to play the spoiler.

Clearly, South Africa like Iran, is not interested in finding a solution to the Israel-Palestine impasse. Its ill-considered direction was so evident when it decided to terminate all diplomatic and political channels with Israel. South Africa now has access only to Hamas and Iran, which shows how they are not committed to bringing an end to this conflict. 

Trump’s Tariffs. A truck loaded with a container at a depo, in Johannesburg, South Africa may well be on the decrease as the new 30% tariffs set to be imposed on South Africa by the Trump administration  will threaten 35,000 jobs in the country’s citrus-growing sector and the economies of entire towns, said a farmers group earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

The ANC’s leadership has a lot to learn from Qatar, a small country in the Middle East region, on how they have come to be respected as peacemakers and good negotiators in the international arena. In 2020, Qatar was able to convince the US to withdraw from Afghanistan with the extremist Taliban group. Qatar negotiated the release of the Americans held in Iran, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. They also helped to bring Ukrainian children to their parents after they were taken to Russia.

Through agreement with the US, Qatar allowed Hamas to have offices in Doha, and they maintain a relationship and communication channels with the Israeli government that helps to bring these two warring parties to the table whenever there is a need. Alongside other players, Qatar helped broker a ceasefire and hostage deal in 2023 between Israel and Hamas. There was another ceasefire and hostage deal in 2025 in which Qatar was centrally involved. Qatar plays this essential role by not siding with anyone but rather striving towards peace and stability in the Middle East; the returns beneficial to all in the region.

Trump Punishes South Africa With 31% Tariff Placing R250 Billion Worth Of Exports In Jeopardy.

It doesn’t end there. Qatar facilitated the brokering of peace between Sudan and Chad and Eritrea and Djibouti and helped to reach a peace deal in Darfur in 2011. At present, it is mediating peace between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

If South Africa wants to gain an international reputation as peacemakers and negotiators, there are, therefore, valuable lessons to be learnt from Qatar.

The ICJ court case will not improve the lives of ordinary South Africans, whose plight has been so neglected over the 30-year rule of the ANC. It is not only a waste of time but also money, and is aimed at appeasing Iran, who is behind the ICJ case and is implacable enemy of Israel. As China, Russia and India are doing, the SA government needs to take an inward approach,  where we focus on improving the lives of our people and building our economy from what it is to what it should be.



About the writer:

Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe is a political writer and researcher based at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.








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).

MEDIA MACHINATIONS

Hypocrisy and selective morality characterise South Africa’s foreign policy

By Allan Wolman

Politicsweb is a subscriber-supported online publication publishing news, commentary, analysis and key documentation related to the politics of South Africa. It is pretty widely read for its political and current event opinions submitted by contributors. It is also proving a malicious platform for attacking Israel!

A toxic anti-Israel advocacy organization and media platform called the Media Revue Network (MRN), closely aligned to BDS, receives a disproportionate amount of coverage on Politicsweb. Hardly a week goes by that virulently anti-Israel articles by Iqbal Jassat of the MRN do not appear in Polticsweb, naturally for the sole purpose of demonising Israel. While I’ve submitted numerous over the years pieces relating to Israel without ever being published, Politicsweb has no problem publishing articles by the anti-Jewish MRN, whose organization’s website states amongst its services:


– To monitor, analyse and evaluate the double standards in the mass media


– To express alternate perspectives and policy positions on local and international issues


Their website, makes mention of Kashmir, Myanmar (Rohingyas) and of course the Middle East but strangely little mention of the desperate plight of millions of the Uyghur Muslims living in Southern Xinjiang under the most repressive and religious persecution witnessed in modern times.

Praising Hamas. Iqbal Jassat, who defines Israel as an “apartheid settler colonial entity,” writes in the   South Africa’s Media Review Network, of which he is an Executive Member” that “Pro-Apartheid Israel lobbies ranging from the SA Zionist Federation to the SA Jewish Board, have hysterically been profiling Hamas as a “terror” group. A tactic doomed to fail.”

The Muslim Uyghur population in China has faced severe and systemic persecution, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Reports from human rights organizations and international observers highlight the existence of mass detention camps, often referred to as “re-education camps,” where Uyghurs are allegedly subjected to indoctrination, forced renunciation of their Islamic faith, psychological and physical abuse, and worse.

In addition, the Chinese government has implemented policies aimed at erasing Uyghur culture and identity, which include:

– demolition of mosques and Islamic cultural sites

– bans on traditional religious practices

– restrictions on the use of the Uyghur language

Human rights lawyer and former UN employee turned whistle-blower, Emma Reilly, exposed the UN’s troubling practice of providing China with the names of Uyghur dissidents and human rights activists. Reilly reported these serious concerns to (South African) Navi Pillay, the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who to her shame, failed to act on the complaints or investigate the potentially harmful practice. By ignoring these warnings, Pillay not only allowed the practice to continue but also contributed to the UN initiated witch hunt against Reilly. The UN has, not for the first time, undermined its credibility, revealing an unwillingness to challenge the obvious, and glaringly exposes its double standards and ‘moral authority’.

South Africa takes the ‘Low Road’. Focusing mostly on falsely accusing Israel of “genocide”, South Africa ignores actual crimes against humanity by its “all-round strategic cooperative partner” , China. Seen here are Uyghurs who only feel safe to protest when they have left China. (Photo: Mark Kerrison/Alamy Live News)

South Africa, which proudly boasts a foreign policy rooted in its post-apartheid identity of human rights, social justice, and multiculturalism, reveals a glaring hypocrisy in its selective approach to global injustices. While the ANC government vocally champions taking Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it remains shamefully silent on China’s brutal genocide against the Uyghurs. This double standard is a stark betrayal of the principles South Africa claims to uphold, while choosing non-interference over condemning genocide and systemic oppression of China’s Muslim peoples. Such silence exposes South Africa’s foreign policy as more about political convenience and contrivance than genuine commitment to global justice and human rights.

SOUNDS OF SILENCE

In her former ministerial position as South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, publicly addressed numerous human rights issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (against Israel) and the Russia-Ukraine war (supportive of Russia). Yet, her conspicuous silence on the Uyghur crisis mirrors South Africa’s reluctance to confront China’s abuses, aligning instead with its non-interference policy. This selective activism underscores the ANC’s misguided world view.

Equally reprehensible is the absence of condemnation from voices like Iqbal Jassat and the MRN, whose mission is explicitly:

 “…to monitor, analyse, and evaluate double standards”.

Their silence in the face of China’s well-documented atrocities against Uyghurs is deafening and indefensible. But this organization’s world view is firmly in sync with the ANC government as it ignores the atrocities against the Uyghurs of Xinjiang.

The Chinese government is persecuting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, China, on the basis of their religion and ethnicity. Between one and three million Uyghurs—of a population of 12 million—are currently in some form of detention, and those who are not still face rapidly tightening control restricting their ability to express their identity.


If they can’t blame Jews, why blame!

This behaviour begs the question:

Is it truly about Palestine and the Palestinian people? 
Both the ANC government and the MRN have glaringly turned a blind eye to:

– the plight of the Uyghurs

– the relentless and systematic oppression of Afghan women condemning half of Afghanistan’s population to lives of extreme deprivation, humiliation, and cruelty and

– the unspeakable horrors recently exposed under Bashar al-Assad’s brutal reign in Syria.

This is selective morality by South Africa. Is it any wonder that the new US administration has seen right through South Africa’s pretence as some ‘moral authority’, its political shenanigans and hypocrisy, and is taking a stand with President Trump – only weeks in office – announcing that it will cut all funding to South Africa while it launches an investigation into the country’s policies, describing it as “massive human rights violations.”

For South Africa that maliciously maligned the Jewish state of false charges of genocide, the chickens are coming home to roost.



About the writer:

Allan Wolman in 1967 joined 1200 young South Africans to volunteer to work on agricultural settlements in Israel during the Six Day War. After spending a year in Israel, he returned to South Africa where he met and married Jocelyn Lipschitz and would run  one of the oldest travel agencies in Johannesburg – Rosebank Travel. He would also literally ‘run’ three times in the “Comrades”, one of the most grueling marathons in the world as well as participate in the “Argus” (Cape Town’s famed international annual cycling race) an impressive eight times. Allan and Jocelyn immigrated to Israel in 2019.





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).

TANGLED WEB

Spiderlike, South Africa weaves alliances with rogue states and terror sponsors – where will it lead?

By Rolene Marks

There is something quite fascinating about spider webs. The intricate way that all the strands weave together and at the centre lurks a patient spider, luring its prey in before devouring it.

Watching South Africa’s machinations against Israel since 7 October, employing aggressive lawfare tactics against the Jewish state, one cannot help thinking about the tangled web of alliances the southern African country has built with rogue states and terror sponsors. The question that we should be asking is, does this campaign end with Israel – or is there a bigger strategy in place?

In the wake of the 7 October atrocities, the South African government made it evident whose side they were taking. Failing to condemn Hamas for the wholesale slaughter, mass rape, torture and mutilation of over 1200 and the kidnapping of over 250, there was the inference that Israel had brought it on themselves and solidarity expressed for the Palestinians.

Shortly after that, then Minister of International Relations, Naledi Pandor, departed for meetings in Tehran and spoke to then Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh on the phone. No readout of the conversation was forthcoming. In December of 2023, South Africa filed their case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide.

Questions arose about who was funding this. Likely candidates seemed to be Iran and Qatar. The two countries are believed to have funded the ANC in return for the case being funded by South African taxpayers from the coffers of the Ministry of Justice and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

In November, President Trump won a second term. The newly formed Trump administration has made their America first, pro-Israel stance firmly clear and if the President’s first term is any indication, Trump will not tolerate assaults on the USA – or its allies, however they manifest.

South Africa’s bizarre choice of Ebrahim Rasool as ambassador to the USA may speak of a disturbing new strategy. To disrupt from within. Rasool, who has served previously in this role, should be a cause of major concern for the Trump administration. Rasool has publicly aligned himself with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both designated as terrorist organisations by many Western nations. He is also an enthusiastic proponent of taking Israel to both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC).

South Africa’s Hamas-simping ANC created controversy last year when they proposed to rename an iconic Johannesburg road, Sandton Drive, after Palestinian terrorist, Leila Khaled. The US consulate is situated on this landmark road. Leila Khaled gained notoriety for the 1969 hijacking of TWA flight 840 and the 1970 attempt to hijack El Al flight 219. She was arrested but later released during a hostage exchange. In 2019, Rasool spoke at a fundraising dinner also attended by senior Hamas official Basem Naim and in 2024, Rasool met with Ibrahim El-Zayat, a figure associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and facilitated meetings for him with business leaders and politicians to seek funding for the “Palestinian cause.”

It is not just in South Africa where the strange bedfellows of anti-Western dissent gather.

In sunny California, playground of the rich and woke, Thandile Sunduza serves as the South African Consul to California as well as Vice-President of the Los Angeles Consular Corps, the second largest consular corps in the world, thus an internationally prominent and politicized platform. The ambitious Thandile was recently photographed with members of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). It is reasonable to assume that JVP is neither Jewish – or a voice for peace! JVP is a shill for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Thandile Sunduza (right) and Estee Chandler from Los Angeles, a key JVP activist and organizer.

In a recent report on JVP published by NGO, Stand With Us, it was found that JVP:

* Partners with Samidoun, an organization sanctioned by the U.S. and Canada for funding terrorism. JVP has also campaigned in support of PFLP terrorists, hosted PFLP members at events, and partnered with groups that openly support PFLP and other terrorist organizations.

*  Promotes antisemitic rhetoric and campaigns, including conspiracy theories like “Deadly Exchange”, which falsely blames Israel and Jewish groups for police brutality in the U.S.

  * Supports extremism, amplifying voices and organizations that incite violence and reject Israel’s right to exist.

*    Has questionable funding sources and foreign connections with Lebanon and Iran, meriting further investigation.

* Weaponizes Jewish identity, attempting to shield extremists from criticism for hateful rhetoric and actions. Too often, this prevents the vast majority of the Jewish community from being taken seriously when speaking out about antisemitism.

JVP recently honoured Sunduza for South Africa’s legal campaign against Israel at the ICJ.

Sunduza has invited known terrorism supporters into her Consulate, allying herself, and effectively endorsing some of the most antisemitic voices in USA. Is the South African Consulate in Los Angeles a de-facto agency for Hamas? Should the US State Department allow Sunduza and Rasool to remain on US territory?

At the end of January, South Africa ramped up its lawfare against Israel, joining The Hague Group.

Thandile Sunduza invites a Pro-Palestinian contingent to her consular.

The Hague Group, comprised of nine countries alleging the Jewish state is illegally occupying Palestinian territory, committing war crimes in Gaza and not abiding by the rulings made by the international courts.

While keeping its plans vague, the collective promised to take “measures to end Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and remove obstacles to the realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine.”

The group is formed of representatives from a laundry list of failed states that includes South Africa, Belize, Cuba, Namibia, Bolivia, Honduras, Senegal, Colombia and Malaysia.

On 2 February, President Trump announced that he would cut off all future funding for South Africa until it investigated how “certain classes of people” were being treated “very badly.” “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, without providing any evidence. “The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” The President also alluded to human rights violations committed in South Africa, a country accusing the US of “aiding and abetting Israeli genocide against the Palestinians.”

Looking from the outside, many may think the spider is setting the web to devour Israel but that is just the start. Is the spider using its proxies in the form of non-state actors and its allies to trap the bigger prey?

Countries like Iran, Russia and China seek to establish an alternative world order that disrupts from within. South Africa considers itself the moral conscience of the world for its role in taking Israel to the ICJ and has previously warned this endeavor will not stop with the Jewish state but will include Israel’s allies as well. South Africa is seeking to form a new anti-West world order. The question is:

 Will the US and other countries recognize that the spider has begun to weave its web in their territories?

Spiders are patient but they are also fallible. It is time to dismantle the webs.





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).

HONOURING TERRORISM

Renaming a street after a terrorist is taking South Africa down the wrong road.

By Nkanyezi Ndlovu

South Africa has long aimed to play a mediatory role in the Middle East peace process, a diplomatic stance underscored by its historical position of hosting both the Israeli and Palestinian embassies. Recently, however, we have witnessed a concerning increase in anti-Israel initiatives within the country, which appears to compromise South Africa’s once-neutral stance. A notable example is the City of Johannesburg’s recent plan to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, ostensibly to honor her purported role in the so-called Palestinian resistance.

While altering street names is a common practice, it is crucial to pause and critically assess who Leila Khaled is. Khaled rose to prominence not as a figure of legitimate resistance, but rather for her notorious role in the 1969 hijacking of TWA Flight 840, as well as her involvement in one of the four simultaneous hijackings in Dawson’s Field the following year, both part of the violent and deadly Black September campaign in Jordan. According to Pluto Press, Khaled is viewed by some as a symbol of Palestinian militancy; however, this perspective conveniently glosses over her involvement in severe acts of terrorism.

Not in our Name.  South Africa’s protesting against the renaming of Sandton Drive outside Johannesburg Council Chambers against the renaming of street after Palestinian terrorist and plane hijacker. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle)

In pro-Palestinian circles, Khaled may be glorified as a fierce icon of resistance, but the stark reality is that she has become infamous for orchestrating hijackings of civilian aircraft under the banner of pursuing freedom. Her involvement in the hijackings have tragically resulted in the death of numerous civilians, a cowardly act that undeniably qualifies as terrorism. Terrorism, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is “the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims.” Given this definition, it is irrefutable that Leila Khaled is a terrorist. Thus, for South Africa to honor such an individual signifies a deeply troubling misunderstanding of diplomatic protocols and humanitarian principles.

Historically, fighting for freedom has indeed been viewed as a noble cause, with many nations, including Palestine, having valiantly struggled for independence. However, when that fight involves the cruel victimization of innocent civilians, it ceases to be a cause for celebration and becomes an abhorrent act of terrorism. Such atrocities, steeped in violence and hatred, should never be honored or celebrated in the modern world.

Cyril Ramaphosa has often described his government as advocates of diplomatic and peaceful negotiations and mediation. However, by moving forward with plans to honour Khaled, Johannesburg risks undermining South Africa’s capacity to play a constructive role in promoting genuine peace and understanding. This reckless decision would portray South Africa as a supporter of Hamas and other extremist Palestinian factions engaged in terrorism. Furthermore, the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, spearheaded by the South African government, suggests a troubling shift away from South Africa’s traditional foreign policy towards an overtly pro-Palestinian agenda, lacking a comprehensive and balanced grasp of the broader conflict. Honoring Khaled is thus a glaring step backward in the delicate peace mediation process.

A honours Hijacker. Khaled gained notoriety for her role in the TWA Flight 840 hijacking in 1969 and one of the four simultaneous Dawson’s Field hijackings (see above) the following year.  Three aircraft were forced to land at Dawson’s Field, a remote desert airstrip in Jordan, which then became PFLP’s “Revolutionary Airport”. After being imprisoned, Khaled was released in a prisoner exchange for civilian hostages kidnapped by other PFLP member.

In the shadow of such misguided choices, South Africa currently faces pressing domestic challenges, including water problems, femicide, crime and soaring unemployment. In this critical context, prioritizing the renaming of streets risks sending a dangerously misguided message to the public, implying that such symbolic gestures concerning terrorism take precedence over more pressing national concerns. South Africa must navigate its future carefully, ensuring that it upholds values of peace, mutual respect, and humane treatment for all, rather than glorifying the violent actions of a notorious terrorist.




About the writer:


Nkanyezi Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean Human rights activist engaged in the issues of human rights, migration, community development and climate change.





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).

SOUTH AFRICA WASTES RESOURCES ON FOREIGN DISPUTES

While taps run dry, public money flows freely, wasted on politically motivated legal battles against Israel.

By Kenneth Mokgatlhe wa Kgwadi

The South African Parliament recently approved a Special Appropriation Bill that allocates R95 million to fund the country’s legal battle against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This case, which seeks to hold Israel accountable for its actions towards Palestinians, is not only an ideological pursuit for some members of South Africa’s ruling party; but also an expensive and controversial distraction from the country’s pressing domestic crises. The ANC’s pursuit of this legal warfare under the banner of solidarity with Palestine is both an unwise diplomatic move and a misuse of resources that could be better directed towards solving South Africa’s own socio-economic problems.

Inequality Street. South African Government misappropriates R95m of taxpayers’ money to pursue political agenda against Israel, while neglecting its own people. Here is a scene in Alexandra township, one of the poorest areas in Gauteng/Johannesburg bordering the wealthy suburb of Sandton, said to be the richest square mile in Africa. (CA Bloem) 

This move comes at a time when South Africa is grappling with severe domestic challenges. The government’s mismanagement of resources, coupled with political opportunism, is threatening the country’s long-term stability. South Africa, once heralded as the “Rainbow Nation” after the end of apartheid, now faces staggering inequality, widespread poverty, and the erosion of its democratic institutions. Yet, the ANC leadership seems more focused on using its foreign policy to advance ideological agendas rather than addressing the urgent needs of the South African people.

‘Time’ to Change. South Africa’s goal of building a nation rooted in the “rainbow nation” ideology remains unfulfilled and its people largely “unequal” as visually captured on this cover of TIME magazine,  yet expends resources to pursue Israel on fallacious charges of genocide at The Hague.

The Special Appropriation Bill was passed largely due to the support of the Government of National Unity (GNU), an uneasy coalition of various political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC, which has long harbored animosity towards Israel, sees the case before the ICJ as an opportunity to further its political agenda – one that resonates with its allies in the Islamic Republic of Iran and other countries hostile to Israel. But the irony is inescapable: as the South African government spends millions of rands fighting Israel, the nation is facing an internal crisis that demands urgent attention.

The government’s alignment with Iran and its proxies, such as Hamas, is also problematic. Iran’s leadership has long supported violent extremism and called for the destruction of Israel. It is well-documented that Hamas, which is backed by Iran, has repeatedly rejected any peace initiative that could bring about a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead, Hamas has resorted to violence, perpetuating the cycle of suffering on both sides of the conflict. While Israel has taken significant steps to engage with Arab nations in the pursuit of peace, Hamas remains obstinately opposed to any peace agreement that might end the violence.

This ideological alignment between South Africa’s government and Iran, combined with the recent political rise of Donald Trump in the U.S., has serious implications for South Africa’s foreign relations. The Trump administration, expected to take a more aggressive stance toward the Middle East, is unlikely to tolerate South Africa’s support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations. By continuing down this path, South Africa risks alienating key trade partners and jeopardizing its relations with Western democracies that are vital to its economic future.

While the South African government spends millions on its legal battle against Israel, the country faces a multitude of urgent domestic issues. South Africa is currently one of the most unequal countries in the world, with 10 percent of the population controlling more than 80 percent of the country’s wealth. In contrast, the remaining 90 percent of the population struggles to make ends meet, living in dire poverty. The government’s social welfare programs, while well-intentioned, are inadequate to address the needs of the majority.

Off the Track. Child poverty and inadequate health amenities is widely prevalent throughout South Africa that is being ‘sidetracked’ by foreign issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Unemployment remains at record levels, and the country’s education and healthcare systems are underfunded and dysfunctional. The education system, once one of the most respected in Africa, is now riddled with challenges, from overcrowded classrooms to outdated curricula. The healthcare system, similarly, is overwhelmed and under-resourced, leaving millions of South Africans without access to adequate care. In some areas, basic services such as running water and electricity are unreliable, and crime rates continue to skyrocket, further eroding the quality of life for South Africans.

Instead of diverting R95 million to a foreign legal battle, the government should focus on implementing policies that address these pressing challenges. South Africa’s foreign policy should prioritize economic and diplomatic engagement with Western countries and other key global players to secure investments and promote sustainable growth. The country cannot afford to alienate its trading partners, especially when it is facing such dire internal challenges.

South Africa’s economic growth has stagnated in recent years, with millions of people unemployed and living in poverty. The country’s energy crisis, caused by ongoing power shortages and mismanagement of the state-owned energy company Eskom, is only exacerbating the situation. Load shedding, or scheduled power cuts, is a regular occurrence, crippling businesses and further damaging the economy.

The country’s infrastructure is crumbling, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for ordinary South Africans to access basic services. For example, Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, has faced severe water shortages in recent years, with taps running dry in many areas. Rural communities, too, suffer from a lack of access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation. Meanwhile, the government continues to waste resources on foreign disputes that do nothing to address these critical domestic issues.

Rather than engaging in legal battles over the Middle East conflict, South Africa should focus on building stronger trade relations with Western countries and other emerging economies. The country needs to invest in its own infrastructure, improve access to healthcare and education, and create jobs for its growing population. It is also critical that South Africa seeks to address its crime problem, which has reached levels that capture international attention. The government must focus on strengthening its law enforcement agencies and ensuring that justice is served for the victims of violent crime.

Government failing in ‘its’ Job. Looking for a job in South Africa, where the absolute number of unemployed people has doubled in the last 25 years. (Photo: Jeremy Seekings.)
 

While South Africa’s government continues to pursue legal action against Israel, it is important to recognize the futility of such efforts. The Middle East conflict is a deeply political issue, and no amount of legal wrangling at the ICJ will resolve the complex historical, cultural, and political factors that fuel the conflict. The legal process will not stop Hamas or other terrorist organizations from continuing their attacks on Israel, nor will it bring peace to the region.

The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in political negotiations, not legal proceedings. The United Nations and other international bodies have repeatedly called for dialogue between Israel and Palestine, but Hamas and other radical groups have rejected these efforts. Peace will only come when both parties – Israel and Palestine – are willing to negotiate in good faith and work towards a lasting resolution. In the meantime, South Africa’s role should be one of promoting dialogue, offering humanitarian assistance, and encouraging peaceful solutions, rather than pursuing a legal case that does little to advance the cause of peace.

Misguided and Misdirected. While much preferring the international spotlight by popularly pursuing Israel on false charges of genocide at The Hague, the majority of South Africa’s suffer at home due to government neglect. (Photos: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The South African government’s decision to allocate R95 million for a wasteful and misguided legal battle against Israel could be better spent addressing local unemployment, poverty, crime, and the country’s crumbling infrastructure. The government’s obsession with Israel and its alignment with Iran’s hostile stance against the Jewish state only serve to alienate key trade partners and undermine South Africa’s long-term interests.

South Africa must shift its focus from ideological foreign policy battles to pragmatic diplomacy that benefits its own citizens. The country needs friends, not foes, and it is essential that the government prioritize economic development, social welfare, and national security over foreign disputes. By doing so, South Africa can begin to build a more prosperous future for its people—one that is based on sustainable growth, peace, and cooperation.





About the writer:

Kenneth Mokgatlhe wa Kgwadi is an independent writer, political analyst and researcher. He is doing his MA in African Studies at the Israeli-based Ben Gurion University of the Negev.






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).