The ACDP is appalled to hear of the invited visit and meeting between the ANC and Hamas yesterday. Hamas is guilty of committing acts of heinous brutality against women, children, infants and families that can never be excused or ignored.
The ACDP joins in the expression of contrition to the Jewish community, for the actions of the governing party who invited leaders of this world-described terrorist army to our country amidst the current conflict and the backdrop of October 7th.
We do not understand how people can align with the perpetrators of those evil actions, the horrific images of which were recorded by the evil ones and broadcast to the world on that day. Women were humiliated and violated, babies were beheaded, children and men were given no pity. Our God says this is abhorrent. The hearts of Jewish people and those who love them, all over the world, are broken while the nation recovers from the worst pain imaginable. The Bible expresses this, “A voice is heard in Israel, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and she refused to be comforted because they were no more.“
This invitation and visit is an insult to Israel and to our Jewish community here in South Africa. No person of sound moral judgement can align with this action by the ANC, showing flagrant disregard for a people who are a blessing to our country and whose very history shows their outstanding activism in support of South African black people in ending apartheid – they form part of our national identity and indeed that of the ANC.
This day of infamy left not only Jewish people reeling from its cruelty but it shocked us all, showing an amorality from which we must totally disassociate ourselves and express empathy to all people affected. For SA to ignore these crimes against women is unthinkable given our own reality of GBV- gender based violence – and especially during this “16 Days of Action” against abuse of women and children.
We must guard against the narrative that holds Israelis responsible for the evil actions committed against them; woe to them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness… our Jewish people are a part of South Africa as much as any other people group of our diverse nation.
Despite the actions of our government, we pray for God’s mercy on our nation.
