Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
08 February 2024 | 16:37 CAT
2-min read

Image: Radio Islam International

CAPE TOWN- As South Africa gears up for the State of the Nation Address, the city of Cape Town is abuzz with conversation and analysis.

Speaking to Radio Islam International this morning, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Service Ronald Lamola expressed pride in South Africa’s principled stance on the Palestinian cause.

The interim rule issued by the ICJ on South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel is a symbol of South Africa’s courage despite political and economic risks and has been met with global applause.

Lamola emphasised the country’s obligation under the genocide convention and noted the EU’s unprecedented acceptance of the ICJ outcome and some countries’ actions to cut weapons supply to Israel.

“We had an obligation. Any member state which is a part of the genocide convention had an obligation. But someone had to do it and we had to be that carrier of this information and taking the matter to the court we knew there’d be repercussions,” Minister Lamola said.

Regarding potential threats, Lamola said they had never been threatened, citing only vague statements questioning the merit of the case. He reaffirmed South Africa’s steadfastness in its cause.

Concerning diplomatic relations with Israel post-ICJ, Lamola confirmed the “downgrade” of the Israeli embassy in South Africa and called for continued international pressure on Israel to cease genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

Anticipating possible punitive measures from Israel, Lamola stressed the importance of standing by principle and international support to bring about change.

“As you are aware, they’ve already cut with regards to the flights and so forth. [But] we have to stand by principle and not issues of convenience and we believe that with the support of the international community putting the necessary pressure, the state of Israel will finally relent and even people within Israel will begin to speak for the human rights of the Palestinians,” Minister Lamola said.

Addressing claims of rising antisemitism due to South Africa’s stance, Lamola dismissed them as baseless and emphasised that the case targets the Israeli government, not the Jewish people.

“Even in our papers we submitted in court we were very clear you’ll remember advocate Vaughan Lowe submitting that our case is not against the Jews as a people it is against the Zionist state of Israel for its military operations in Gaza where they are committing acts of genocide, where they are destroying civilian infrastructure, maiming innocent children and women. That is our case. It has got nothing to do with the Jews as a people,” Minister Lamola said.

The discussion concluded with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat expressing gratitude and acknowledgement for Minister Lamola’s role in the case, as well as for the government’s political courage. Minister Lamola commended the president’s courage in the face of adversity.

Listen to the full interview with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.