PRESS STATEMENT: Johannesburg City Parks not allowing Jewish Palestine solidarity event
31 August 2016
The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa has just been informed by our comrades from the South African Jews for Palestine (SAJFP) that Johannesburg City Parks has withdrawn its permission to the SAJFP for a Palestine solidarity event tomorrow (Thursday 01 September). The withdrawal and u-turn by the Johannesburg City Parks came after complaints submitted by a Councillor belonging to the Democratic Alliance (DA), Cllr. Steven Kruger.
South African Jews for Free Palestine (SAJFP) is currently hosting four representatives of Palestinian civil society in Johannesburg and Cape Town over the next two weeks on a solidarity visit (
click here for more info). The SAJFP together with the visiting Palestinian delegation are meant to carry out a symbolic tree planting ceremony tomorrow (Thursday 01 September) at the Weinberg Family Park (Cnr Grenville and Hastings Ave) in Savoy Estate but this is now at stake of being undermined by the DA Councillor's objections and Johannesburg City Parks u-turn by withdrawing permission.
Members of the media are invited to a press conference today (Wednesday 31 September) hosted by the SAJFP together with the visiting Palestinain delegation where more information will be shared and provided.
Date: Wednesday 31 August 2016
Time: 10h30 AM
Venue: Sophiatown Museum and Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre, 73 Toby St, Sophiatown, Johannesburg
ISSUED BY KWARA KEKANA ON BEHALF OF BDS SOUTH AFRICA
For comment contact: Merlynn Edelstein, 083 556 5559 or Mitchell Hunter, 0716253179
*NOTE TO THE EDITOR
*South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP): is an organisation of South African Jews wishing to see a just resolution to the conflict in Historic Palestine. The SAJFP believes in the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, “Repairing the World” which embodies social action and the pursuit of social justice. Historically Jews have been involved in struggles to achieve social justice and the SAJFP is continuing in this tradition. Furthermore, as Jews, members of the SAJFP feel obliged to speak out against injustice purportedly carried out in their name.
BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL IN SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)5th Floor
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