The Freedom Front Plus has now warned that the anti Jewish comments by Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa’s minister of International Relations and Cooperation, are extremely insensitive and negligent when viewed against the background of the important role that theJewish community has played on virtually every level of society in South Africa and especially their important contribution to the country’s economy.
Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus’ parliamentary spokesperson says Lieberman went so far as to say that the South African government’s incitement of emotions against Israel and Jews in South Africa is so severe that it could lead to pogroms against Jews in the country. He warned Jews to leave the country while they still could.
Nkoana-Mashabane had told trade union members that the South African government’s official policy is to have no official relations with Israel on a ministerial level until there has been some progress with the peace process with the Palestinians. She also said that South Africa identifies with the Palestinian’s problems and that their struggle is also South Africa’s struggle.
Adv. Alberts says the comments is shocking and irresponsible and means effectively that Jews are not welcome in South Africa. “The chief executive of the Jewish Board of Deputies in South Africa, Mr. David Jacobson, told the FF Plus that Jews in South Africa and across the world have with shock and horror taken note of the comments of Nkoana-Mashabane and that they view it in a very serious light.
“South Africa is supposed to be a home for all who live in it. The Jewish community has been in South Africa for many generations. They are as much a part of the country as anybody else and have no other home.