Cape Town — Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has fervently denied claims that South African banks are involved in funding Hamas.
It was alleged that some of South Africa’s major banks were funding Hamas through the Al-Quds Foundation, an international group formed by Hamas to raise funds for the terror organisation through a charity ruse, the Jerusalem Post said.
“Research conducted by The Jerusalem Post staff and several sources uncovered what appears to be a network of several South African organizations and straw man companies deeply involved with funding Hamas activities through the Al-Quds Foundation, an international group sanctioned by the US and outlawed by Israel, using accounts registered in major local South African banks: Standard Bank, Nedbank, and Absa,” the report said.
However, Godongwana denied the claims from the article when he was speaking at an ABSA event announcing the bank’s expansion to China with a planned launch of their office in May, The Citizen reported.
“I want to debunk a myth that appeared in the Jerusalem Post, which tried to describe South African banks as being involved in funding terror organisations. I want to debunk that myth,” Godongwana was quoted as saying..
We’re thrilled to announce our physical expansion into the People’s Republic of China, opening a new non-banking subsidiary in Beijing. The office enables us to offer local support to Chinese clients and stakeholders, concluding transactions across the African continent. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/KFk5U705l2
— Absa Group (@Absa) February 1, 2024
Godongwana said that the government currently holds good relations with the US government, despite what people are saying.
“I can tell you now, forget what people say about our relationship with the United States; at a government level, that relationship is fine.” he said.
Absa Group executives along with guests from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China and the Minister of Finance of South Africa, gathered to mark our landmark announcement, an event at our Sandton office yesterday. 3/3 pic.twitter.com/gjqKcsX6B4
— Absa Group (@Absa) February 1, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
