DSAC deputy minister accuses IOC of double standards for allowing Israel in Olympics.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Peace Mabe has come out against South Africa’s participation at the Olympics games currently taking place in Paris, France.

Mabe issued a statement condemning Israel’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

She believes the country should be excluded from the games as its participation undermines the principles of the Olympics, which includes universality, solidarity, and unity in diversity.

“The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture condemns the participation of the genocidal state of Israel in the Paris 2024 Olympics as it seriously undermines the principles of Olympism,”Mabe said in a statement.

These principles include: Universality and solidarity, Unity in diversity, Autonomy and Good Government and Sustainability according to Mabe.

The grand opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics took place on Friday.

Pro-Palestine activists around the world have been calling for Israel to be banned from the Olympics, accusing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of double standards by allowing Israel to participate while barring Russia.

Both Russia and Palestine are accused of genocide for the killing of thousands of people.

Mabe said Israel’s participation should be viewed as grossly inhuman.

“We view this participation as grossly inhuman, and indicative of scant regard for thousands of Palestinian lives lost as a result of continued genocide by Israel against women, children, men, the elderly and the sick.

The people of Palestine continue to face the barrage of attacks and dehumanisation despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings on provisional measures in the case taken by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention to cease its military attacks and allow sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza” said Mabe.

However, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie fired back at the statement, accusing Mabe of pushing politics instead of showing support for SA’s athletes.

“I shall respond fully in regards to my displeasure about the statement released by Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture Ms Peace Mabe only after the Olympics. I don’t want politics to take centre stage now, this is the time for Team SA, let’s rally behind them, “McKenzie wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Team SA headed into the third day of the Paris 2024 Olympics with one medal in the bag, courtesy of the men’s Sevens team who took the bronze medal. 

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