Johannesburg – South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has called for further downgrading of her country’s diplomatic relations with Israel, expressing hope for a “direct action” against the regime in Tel Aviv for its “well-documented apartheid practices.”
Addressing the parliament this week, Pandor pointed to South Africa’s history of struggle, saying the values derived from the struggle against racism and colonialism “make us duty-bound to be a voice for the oppressed and marginalized everywhere.”
According to Pandor, the opposition to Israel’s African Union observer status is based on the AU charter rejecting “colonialism, racism, and illegal occupation.”
“We have vehemently, as South African, opposed the granting of [African Union] observer status to Israel by the chair of the African Union Commission. Our objection stems from our own constitution and its values and the African Union charter that rejects colonialism, racism, and illegal occupation of the land of others,” she stated.
She said such substantive concerns are shared by at least 24 other African Union member states.
