By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
International Relations minister Naledi Pandor has reiterated government’s commitment to fervently continue to back Palestine through its legal action in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Pandor was speaking during a panel discussion at the Baitun Noor Centre in Lenasia, where she also told attendees that it is important for the ANC to get a majority at the upcoming elections in order for the South African government to continue pursuing the case.
“As the ANC and government, we are resolute that we will continue to pursue this case and of course if you as the people of South Africa do something odd by not ensuring the ANC has the majority. We as the ANC will pursue the case if the government won’t. Make sure you vote,” she reiterated.
The ANC Gauteng hosted a panel discussion on Wednesday evening in solidarity with Palestine and to provide a way forward regarding South Africa’s International Court of Justice case. Pandor was a part of the panel alongside ANC Gauteng chair Panyaza Lesufi, ANC Joburg chair Dada Morero and Palestinian Solidarity Alliance’s (PSA) activist Nazeem Adam.
In January, a majority of judges presiding over the ICJ case between South Africa and Israel granted most of the measures requested by South Africa to prevent a rising genocide in Gaza and the rest of Palestine.
South Africa subsequently made an urgent request to the ICJ on 13 February for additional measures to be taken by Israel to prevent harm to civilians during its assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. However, the court declined South Africa’s application, saying Israel remained bound by the court’s order of 26 January.
On Wednesday South Africa made an urgent appeal to the court for the indication of additional provisional measures and the alteration of the court’s order on 26 January, calling on the ICJ to act again now, “before it is too late — to do what is within its power to save Palestinians in Gaza from genocidal starvation”.
Pandor denounced the notion that all ANC members are corrupt, adding that while the governing party has made its fair share of mistakes, undoing the apartheid regime’s system has not been an easy task.
“I challenge the notion that everyone in the ANC is corrupt, I am not corrupt I have got integrity. I refuse to be labelled because I belong to the ANC.
“Not all that we wanted to achieve as a new democracy has been achieved in the last 30 years but a great deal of the legacy we received has been addressed and I think it is improbable we can imagine that in 30 years we will overcome the legacies of apartheid. There is no nation that experienced the amount of oppression, harm or racism that could ever address the social and economic ills in 30 years.
“I do think it is important to look at the record of what has been done and yes indeed point out the imperfections and the call on the government and any party that is in power that it must fight and eradicate corruption,”she explained.
Lesufi on the other hand told residents that the ANC- led government’s strides to assist the people of Palestine in no way means they are neglecting domestic issues.
He said the government is working towards ending the rolling blackouts crisis while combating crime and lawlessness.
“On the matter that we are choosing Palestine and not South Africans. I can tell you something, even if we have done anything good, if someone hates you regardless of what you do, they will find an excuse to try and discredit you.
“We will assist the people of Palestine [but] we will never neglect our responsibilities but that does not mean we should turn a blind eye if people are suffering in any part of the globe whether it is Eswantini or Cuba.”
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Video Courtesy of MYANC.