Cape Town – South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has rejected claims of antisemitism in the country amid accusations following its approach to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The ICJ ordered Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid but stopped short of a ceasefire.
Lamola dismissed accusations of antisemitism, emphasising that South Africa is a safe place for Jews and that their case is against the actions of the State of Israel, not the Jewish people.
During a BBC Hard Talk interview with Stephen Sackur, Lamola refuted allegations made by Howard Sackstein in the Jewish Report.
Sackstein expressed the view that South Africa no longer provides a secure environment or a sense of home for Jewish individuals.
“I sit here staring at my suitcase, contemplating whether it’s time to leave the only home I’ve ever known. I imagine my ancestors, in the frigid cold of Lithuania, a mere 100 years ago, looking at the red flags of a rising tide of Jew hatred and wondering the exact same thing. Everything has an expiry stamp, and South Africa is looking like we’re fast approaching the “best before date”.
“In South Africa, there is no threat, harm…to the Jewish people” says Justice Minister
“There is no anti-Semitism in South Africa” Ronald Lamola tells Stephen Sackur, despite a reported rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the country since October 7 pic.twitter.com/bmq35fZITS
— BBC HARDtalk (@BBCHARDtalk) January 29, 2024
“A year ago, an American Jewish non-governmental organisation visited South Africa to see whether it should begin planning a mass evacuation for South African Jewry. I laughed it off. I feel a little foolish about that now.
“For Jews, this country no longer feels like a safe space or “home”. The government has been captured by radical Islamists and their sympathisers,” wrote Sakstein
But Lamola maintained that South Africa provides a secure environment for Jewish individuals.
“In South Africa there is no threat, harm or whatsoever to the Jewish people. They continue to participate in all forms of social life. As you speak to me now, nothing has happened to him [Sakstein] and nothing will happen to him or any Jewish community on the basis of their creed, sex or religion.”
The minister said that South Africa does not harbour antisemitic sentiments towards the Jewish community, despite Sackur referring to statistics suggesting the contrary.
“There is no such [thing]… The president wrote in his weekly newsletter which he stated very clear that our action is not on the basis of antisemitism. It’s on the basis of our obligation as a nation believing in human rights to stand for the vulnerable children of Palestine.
“So, there is no antisemitism in South Africa against the Jewish people,” said Lamola.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for justice for Palestinians and a negotiated settlement for lasting peace.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/@joy_zelda
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
