IPOH: South Africa's former foreign minister, Dr Naledi Pandor said that the majority of South Africans and their government, believe their freedom will not be complete until the freedom of the Palestinians is also achieved.
The sentiment echoes the well-known quote by former South African President Nelson Mandela.
"South Africa holds very dear our belief that all people are equal and all human beings are equally deserving of human rights.
"This is a very important, fundamental belief that all of us should share. No person deserves to be treated unequally.
"Because of the way we were treated, with over 350 years of racial discrimination in my own country, we have come to strongly hold this belief in the equality and dignity of human beings and the importance of human rights.
"As a government born out of the struggle for freedom, we have taken on the responsibility of committing ourselves as South Africans, who are free, to speak out against oppression wherever it occurs. If it is possible to act, we will act. This commitment is what underpins our efforts," she said.
She said this during talks on "Voice of Justice: Naledi Pandor's Insights on the Palestinian Struggle" in conjunction with the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilization (WCIT 2024).
The event was also attended by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad at Hotel Casuarina@Meru here yesterday.
It was reported that South Africans continue to support the Palestinian cause, and the country has taken the rare step of bringing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice because of its actions in Gaza.
South Africa is geographically distant from the conflict.
However, its ruling African National Congress, which Mandela led from an anti-apartheid liberation movement to a political party in government, has maintained its strong pro-Palestinian stance even after Mandela's death in 2013.
Pandor, reflecting on Mandela's legacy, noted that she could not forget his powerful words about the struggle of the Palestinian people.
"As a member of the South African National Congress, my political party, every time we meet to discuss our policies, one of the resolutions we adopt is in support of Palestine.
"In 2017, at our party's National Congress, we decided that South Africa should close its embassy in Israel.
In 2018, we withdrew our ambassador from Israel," she said adding the country has embassy in Ramallah, Palestine that continues to function. She stated that the decision to bring Israel to the International Court of Justice came with the strong support of her people, government and party.
"No member of my party, the African National Congress, can proudly stand up and say that they support Zionist Israel.
It is not permissible in our organisation," she said.
She added that South Africa's contribution to the struggle of the Palestinian people did not begin with her but with the decision of the South African government.
"I am the face of the implementation of this decision, but the decision itself belongs to the government of South Africa.
"However, as the face of this initiative, I have also become a target for those who do not support the issue of freedom and justice for the people of Palestine," she said.