By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed support for the people of Palestine amid rising tensions with Israel and deadly strikes that have claimed the lives of children.
Ramaphosa made the remarks while delivering the closing address on Monday after the ANC’s national executive committee meeting held over the weekend.
There’s been a fresh build-up in anger between Palestinians and Israelis over plans to evict Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah – that’s in east Jerusalem – to make space for Israeli settlements.
The situation escalated into violence when Israeli forces stormed the al-Aqsa mosque over the weekend as worshippers gathered for Ramadan prayers.
Since then, the two sides have clashed daily as police fired rubber bullets and Palestinians threw rocks and other objects.
Ramaphosa has reiterated South Africa’s position on the decades-long conflict.
“The NEC reaffirms its support for the people of Palestine and their struggle for freedom and self-determination. And we repeat our condemnation in the strongest terms of the unlawful evictions of the Palestinians from their homes and the brutal attacks on the Palestinian protestors at al-Aqsa mosque.”
Ramaphosa has also had to concede that the country’s land reform programme is taking too long. The party’s grandé and lawyer Mathews Phosa has been appointed to chair a task team to guide the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution, which provides for land expropriation without compensation.
The constitutional amendment on expropriation is before Parliament and is one of the most contested pieces of law in South Africa’s history. It sets out the process under which expropriation can happen.
Closing Remarks by @MYANC President @CyrilRamaphosa on occasion of the special NEC meeting held from the 8th of May 2021 until Monday the 10th of May 2021 #ANCNEC pic.twitter.com/VtUYSSxK1e
— African National Congress (@MYANC) May 10, 2021
— African National Congress (@MYANC) May 10, 2021
Meanwhile it now remains to be seen whether suspended secretary general Ace Magashule will apologise to Ramaphosa.
“The NEC discussed the ‘letter of suspension’ written by the Secretary-General to the President for whicth (he) had no authority or mandate from any structure of the movement, “said Ramaphosa in his closing remarks.
“The NEC agreed that such conduct was completely unacceptable and a flagrant violation of the rules, norms and values of the ANC. The NEC furthermore instructed the officials to advise the Secretary-General to apologise publicly to ANC structures and members within a strict time frame.
“If he fails to do so, the ANC will institute disciplinary procedures in accordance with the ANC constitution.”
The suspended secretary-general has had his wings clipped by the terms of the step-aside rule. He has to step aside because he faces 74 counts of fraud, theft, corruption, money laundering and asbestos regulation contraventions, along with 15 co-accused, in the Bloemfontein High Court..
While Magashule will receive his full pay and benefits while suspended, he cannot represent the organisation publicly or in any forum; can’t make public pronouncements about the ANC and can’t mobilise ANC structures, organisations or individuals.