ANC condemns Chief Justice Mogoeng's comments in support of Israel
- The ANC has expressed its concern after Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng made comments appearing to in support of "Apartheid Israel"
- The governing party has referred the matter to the Speaker of Parliament
- Israel has continued to violate the human rights of Palestinian people
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The ANC has noted, with concern, sentiments made by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng expressing his apparent support for "Apartheid Israel".
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said the former liberation movement was “deeply concerned” by the remarks made by Mogoeng during an interview with the Jerusalem Times.
The ANC has called on the Speaker of Parliament, Thandi Modise, to hold high-level talks with Mogoeng following his comments, said IOL.
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Mogoeng took part in the virtual discussion with South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and the publication’s editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz, discussing global racial tensions.
The Chief Justice is said to have lambasted South Africa’s current stance on the Israel-Palestine matter and called for a more balanced approach to enable greater change in the debate.
Mogoeng said:
"I think as a citizen of this country, we are denying ourselves a wonderful opportunity of being game-changers in the Israeli-Palestinian situation. We know what it means to be at loggerheads, to be a nation at war with itself."
The government party condemned these sentiments in a statement it released, saying:
"We support human rights and we stand with the oppressed Palestinians who include Christians of the Holy Land as well as the residents of Jerusalem and Bethlehem who are living under Israeli apartheid."
The party highlighted that while Mogoeng is a citizen of South Africa, he should be cognisant of the role he plays he the country's judiciary, said The South African.
On Thursday, Mabe said:
"The esteemed chief justice entered the arena of political commentary which may make him vulnerable should he have to adjudicate a human rights matter in the future.
"He also openly supported the actions of the State of Israel, actions condemned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on numerous occasions, and contemptuous behaviour towards the human rights of the people of Palestine."
In the recent past, South African musician and international artist, DJ Black Coffee (real name Nathi Maphumulo), received backlash after performing in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Source: Briefly News
