Month: July 2022

South Africa’s chief rabbi has condemned Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor for saying that Israel is “implementing apartheid” in its treatment of Palestinians. Pandor made the comparison to South Africa’s past oppressive system of racial segregation during a meeting of the Palestinian Heads of Mission in Africa, held in Pretoria.

Wearing a traditional Palestinian scarf, Pandor reiterated South Africa’s steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause, comparing it to the 20th century struggle against white minority rule in South Africa.

“For many South Africans, the narrative of the Palestinian people’s struggle does evoke experiences of our own history of racial segregation and oppression,” she said.

Pandor said Israel was continuing to “occupy Palestine in complete defiance of its international obligations and relevant resolutions of the U.N.,” and that it was “implementing apartheid.”

For his part, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki thanked South Africa for its support, also drawing parallels with the former apartheid government.

“We came here because every time we need support and encouragement, we look for reference; we come to the origin of the struggle for liberation, for independence, against colonization, here in South Africa,” Malki said.

Contacted by VOA, the Israeli embassy in Pretoria said it would get back with a comment on Pandor’s remarks, but no statement has been made by either the embassy or the Foreign Ministry in Israel.

South Africa’s chief rabbi, Warren Goldstein, slammed Pandor’s comments as “factually, politically, morally repugnant.”

“They are views which are a defamation of the Jewish state and an insult to the victims of the real apartheid, because if everything’s apartheid, nothing is apartheid,” he said.

He added that the minister’s comments “betrayed” South Africa’s constitution.

“Israel is the only democracy in the region, and the South African government’s support for tyrannies in China, Russia and Iran mean that it does not have the moral credibility to level accusations such as this,” Goldstein said.

Steven Gruzd, analyst from the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg, said since the start of democracy in 1994, the South African government had strongly supported the Palestinian cause. While it maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, he noted, they are “not warm.”

He said the accusation Israel is an apartheid state was particularly strong, coming from South Africa.

“When the foreign minister of a country calls another country out for apartheid and that first country is South Africa, it will make people stand up and take notice,” Gruzd said.

Gruzd said he expected Israel and its chief ally the United States to condemn Pandor’s remarks.

Source: Voice of America

‘Innovative shift required to resolve rampant crime in Rietgat’s Jukulyn’ – Committee

During its recent oversight visit to Tshwane’s Rietgat Police Station, the Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety called for a “shift in control measures, and a more innovative approach for proactive crime prevention”.

The visit followed numerous complaints to the Committee from the Jukulyn community lamenting the high crime levels in the area, which have resulted in perpetual incidents of rape, robbery, and assaults. These have left residents fearing for their lives given the weaknesses in police to ensure their safety.

In response to the public outcry, the Committee yesterday (27 July 2022) visited the Rietgat Police Station and Jukulyn Section to get a sense of the situation and assess current policing measures. The Committee made recommendations for stricter policing to improve resident safety.

The Committee received reports on recurrent crimes including murders, car hijacking, business robberies, common assault and gender based violence – with some parts of Jukulyn Section declared ‘no go areas’ for residents and police.

To restore law and order in the area, the Committee recommended the following:

The deployment of SAPS’s Tactical Response Team

Law Enforcement Agencies to conduct ‘Operation: Okae Molao’ weekly

Strict enforcement of by-laws on spaza shops and liquor outlets

Community involvement and restoration of confidence in Police in the area

The immediate arrest of known suspects

Increased police visibility and ‘stop & search’ operations, particularly on weekends and at night

Cooperation with informers and community intelligence

The above recommendations will be formalized with the Office of the Provincial Police Commissioner with the Committee closely monitoring implementation on a quarterly basis. Furthermore, the Committee will conduct random unannounced oversight visits to the area.

Meanwhile, the Committee will hold a joint public meeting with law enforcement agencies to afford residents a platform to voice concerns regarding rampant crime in Jukulyn.

For interview requests with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee please contact: Mr Thebe Khumalo on 072 266 1021 email: [email protected]

Source: Government of South Africa

During the by-elections contested yesterday in KwaZulu-Natal the African National Congress (ANC) won the by-election.

The new councillor for the ANC is:

Ravinand Samlall Maharaj, in Ward 13, in uMdoni Municipality – KZN212: The party won the seat that was previously won by the Democratic Alliance in the 2021 Municipal Elections, by 29.45% of the total votes cast compared to 26.95% during the 2021 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout yesterday was 44.49%.

For more detailed election results please visit the Electoral Commission’s website at www.elections.org.za

Source: Government of South Africa