The Young Communist League in Gauteng, Free Palestine Movement and the labour union, Nehawu, have jointly called for the government to shut down the Israeli embassy in the country and the South African embassy office in Tel Aviv.
The cessation of foreign ties was mentioned in the memorandum of grievance delivered by the protesting members of the ANC tripartite alliance led by the Young Communist League to Dirco offices in Pretoria on Tuesday.
A three-page memorandum of grievances was delivered to the Department of the International Relation and Cooperation (Dirco) by members of the ANC tripartite alliance led by YCL and union Nehawu.
Certain official at Dirco including an Ambassador who is a special advisor are actively working to prevent a resolution by the governing party for the downgrading of the South African Embassy in Israel.
Dirco must stop interfering with the democratic process of the ANC branches and alliances.
YCL provincial Secretary Alex Mdakane says the protest action by about 500 protesters was in support of the people of Palestine.
Mdakane says the picket was to highlight and expose the alleged rogue elements that are pro-Israeli and working within the department.
Alex Mdakane says, “We are here to pledge with the peace-loving people of Palestine. We are also here to pledge our solidarity with the workers within Dirco.”
“We are calling for total shutdown of the South African embassy in Israel. In fact, our friends from Palestine the Israeli Jews who are progressive and support the Palestinian course were protesting last week for the total shutdown of the South African embassy in that part of the world.”
Nehawu has called on International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkwana-Mashabane to get rid of the rogue elements supporting Israeli in her foreign affairs portfolio.
The union provincial Chairperson Lulamile Sibanda says Dirco operations should not contradict the ruling party’s foreign policies.
“We want to see the Minister of International Relations Maite Nkwana-Mashabane intervening in supporting the ANC’s and government policies, in particular around the struggle to support the people of Palestine.”
Protesters who were expecting Minister Nkwana-Mashabane to receive the memorandum were not happy to see Ambassador Ebrahim Saley who was delegated to accept the memo. Members of the alliance also refused.
