Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events (including rallies, lectures, cultural performances, music shows, films and workshops) that seek to raise awareness of Israel's apartheid policies against the indigenous Palestinians and garner support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign. IAW this year will take place in over 250 cities and at more than 55 different universities across the world. IAW was first launched in Canada 10 years ago, making 2014 the 10th anniversary of the IAW campaign. IAW takes place in Canada between the 3rd and 11th of March and in South Africa between the 10th and 16th of March. (
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Ambassador Yusuf “JoJo” Saloojee commented: “The Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) campaign in solidarity with the Palestinian people is very similar to the campaigns, events and actions that were held in the 1980s in solidarity with us South Africans. I am honoured to be participating in this important campaign."
In 1978 Ambassador Saloojee established an ANC office in Toronto to advance the anti-apartheid struggle in Canada. He served as the ANC Chief Representative to Canada between 1978 and 1989. The ANC Chief Representative was the head of the organisation’s office in the country he/she was posted. He/she was accountable to the ANC headquarters and carried out the organisation’s political work. The role of an ANC Chief Representative during the South African anti-apartheid struggle was to liaise with trade unions, governments, churches and other organised bodies to raise awareness of the anti-apartheid struggle and to work on the isolation of Apartheid South Africa. (
Click here to watch a 1986 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) TV news clip of Saloojee representing the ANC anti-apartheid struggle).
Ambassador Saloojee was the longest serving Chief Representative of the ANC in Canada. Upon leaving Canada Saloojee was deployed to the ANC's International Department in Lusaka (Zambia) where he worked with President Oliver Tambo, President Thabo Mbeki and others on advancing the anti-apartheid movement and isolation of Apartheid South Africa. Following Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, Saloojee, was responsible for arranging Mandela’s first international tour. After the end of Apartheid Saloojee became an Ambassador for the Democratic South African Government. He served as a diplomat in Oman, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Ambassador Yusuf Saloojee has said of his upcoming tour: “I once traveled the length and breadth of Canada raising awareness of Apartheid South Africa’s oppressive policies against Black South Africans as well as garnering support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Apartheid South Africa. Initially the Canadian Government and its people were reluctant to support our struggle against Apartheid but with time both the Canadian government and the Canadian people were fully behind our struggle - they chose to be on the right side of history. The Canadian government and people are now being called on to, again, be on the right side of history by supporting the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israeli Apartheid. Canada should live up to its past track record and throw its weight behind the international Palestine solidarity movement and the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign.”
For more information or to arrange interviews with Ambassador Yusuf “Jojo” Saloojee contact:
Muhammed Desai (South Africa): +27 (0) 84 2119988, mdesai@bdssouthafrica.com
Chandni Desai (Canada): +1 (416) 7792859, saia@masses.tao.ca
ISSUED BY KWARA KEKANA, NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON OF "ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK SOUTH AFRICA TEAM”
Tel: +27 (0) 72 449 1774
Email: iawsouthafrica@apartheidweek.org
