South Africa is an anomaly among the world’s democracies. Last Friday we woke up to another vicious and hate-filled march on the Israeli Embassy by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. And yet, it was also a day when 500 Church leaders around Gauteng (the province in which Johannesburg and Pretoria sit) gathered in Katlehong in the east of Johannesburg to pray for the release of the hostages being held by Hamas and to show their support for Israel.
The past two weeks have been deeply painful for South African Jewry. We have joined our brothers and sisters in Israel in mourning the horrific loss of innocent Jewish lives and are praying for those injured, have seen with horror the unbridled cruelty of the murderers that is even now being revealed, and of course, share the sleepless nights of those being held captive in Gaza. And we share the anxiety of our friends, family, and all the people of Israel who have been plunged into war following the heinous massacre of 7 October. There are few South African Jews who are not in some way connected to someone who died, was wounded, or even taken hostage.
What is different in South Africa is that, unlike other diaspora countries, our government’s initial reaction to the Hamas atrocities was not in any way to condemn them. It further refused to show sympathy for Israel or even for its own Jewish community which is experiencing such trauma. Our families, friends, and colleagues in Israel were and are deeply impacted by the massacre and the war that has ensued. Yet our government couldn’t bring itself to reach out to its Jewish citizens by expressing its condolences. It didn’t even reach out to the families of the two South African victims who were killed.
While world leaders scrambled to stand by their Jewish communities, joining them at solidarity events and prayer meetings, or in some way showing support at this time of grief, ours were silent.
Only following the publication by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies of an unusually hard-hitting full-page advert in the Sunday Times did the government at last condemn Hamas’s atrocities.
By comparison, its condemnation of Israel has been swift and vindictive, with terms like “genocide” featuring prominently. International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor was exposed by the Hamas website for her call of support to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh – causing an international incident. The usual anti-Israel road show has begun, with the ANC, SA Communist party, and trade unions using aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric straight out of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) handbook.
Israel support in South Africa present, if not as vocal
BUT WHAT has also emerged over the past two weeks is a groundswell of support from many quarters in South Africa. It may not be as vocal due to the appalling intimidation by the ruling party, but it is very large in numbers and extremely passionate in its support for Israel and local Jewry. As our government maintained silence in the days following the barbaric Hamas attacks, we were contacted by many opposition parties, who further issued statements and came out unequivocally expressing their sympathy for the victims of this horrific massacre.
We received calls, emails, and unequivocal solidarity on social media. A senior local government leader from an opposition party arrived at my office one day to give me a hug at a time when I really needed the friendship. Members of the media reached out to us. Academics approached us. And so many in our community told me of unprecedented support in their workplaces.
At the Johannesburg solidarity rally last week our community was joined by many non-Jewish South Africans who came out to stand with us. Messages from Patriotic Alliance leaders Gayton Mckenzie and Kenny Kunene lifted the spirits of our community with their unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and their support for Israel and South African Jewry.
Likewise, our longtime friends the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the Democratic Alliance, and the party leader of COPE Mosiuoa Lekota took to the stage to express their solidarity, each delivering powerful and heartwarming speeches. The Bishop of the Shemba Church, which has eight million members, stood on the stage providing his support. We came away much heartened and the feeling that we were not alone.
On Friday, the 500 church leaders wore t-shirts with images of hostages held in Gaza. Throughout the morning the clear message “Let Our People Go” was delivered by pastors.
Israeli Ambassador Eli Belotsercovsy received the warmest of receptions as he took to the stage to address the gathering, and the speaker of the Johannesburg City Council gave an incredibly moving speech providing support for our community.
The following day in Cape Town, the ACDP convened an event with 1,000 pastors coming together with messages of solidarity and friendship. We are constantly told of churches around the country holding prayer meetings for Israel.
Organizers of rallies being planned outside of the community have also approached us. Today a civil society organization of young people in Alexandra marched to show their support of Israel. Other events are being planned in the next days and weeks.
I now wear my t-shirt calling for the release of the hostages wherever I go, and people rush up to me with tears in their eyes and a supportive hand.
This is the true picture of South Africa. Our government does not represent how our people truly feel about Israel. As our country moves into a new era of coalition politics, a different stance will unfold. The voices of South Africans will be more reflected in our international relations stance.
On Wednesday night, four days after the massacre, the Johannesburg skyline was lit up in support of Israel. The Israeli flag was projected onto the iconic Ponte building and on a building nearby the words “South Africans stand with Israel” were shone. The current government and ruling party have shown themselves to be haters of the Jewish state. But the people of Mzanzi, my beautiful country South Africa, stand with Israel.
The writer is national director of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.