FLASHBACK ON BOYCOTTS: SA UNIVERSITIES ADOPT ISRAEL BOYCOTT |
Together with our partners (SASCO, SAUS, Wits PSC, UCT PSF, KZN PSF etc.) BDS SA has and continues to form part of various successful South African academic boycott initiatives. In a world first, we were part of leading a successful two year campaign to convince the University of Johannesburg to terminate its relations with Israel (2011). Last year we were proud to support the successful campaign that saw South Africa's largest residence university, TUT, institutionally backing the academic boycott of Israel. Various academic and student bodies as well as student governments (SRCs) across our country have adopted the BDS campaign. In addition, both the current and former Minister of Higher Education have spoken in support of the boycott of Israel. Click here for more info.
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FLASHBACK ON DIVESTMENTS: SA CHURCHES CALL FOR ECONOMIC ACTION |
Earlier this year South African Christian leaders, together with their African-American counterparts, representing churches with over 50 million members, issued a joint statement urging for "economic pressure” against Israel. SA Churches are increasingly joining churches across the globe in adopting resolutions in support of divestment from Israel. Most recently, one of BDS SA's close church partners, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), with over 500 000 members, adopted BDS. Click here.
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FLASHBACK ON SANCTIONS: SA DOWNGRADES ISRAEL EMBASSY |
In 2017, South Africa's ruling party, the ANC, took a decision to unconditionally downgrade SA's Embassy in Israel to a liaison office. Two years later, on the 3rd of May 2019, the South African Government announced that it had implemented the downgrade of diplomatic relations. President Ramaphosa, has referred to the downgrade as a form of "pressure on the government of Israel,” adding that "our position is very clear on this and that is the policy of our government and that is the way we are going to proceed”. It took over three years of campaigning but BDS SA is proud to have supported this ANC Government decision - practical and firm action in support of sanctions against Israel. In addition, due to consistent lobbying efforts, other actions by government against Israel include the 2017 South African parliament snub of Israeli parliamentarians, SA Government Ministers turning down pro-Israeli platforms, the travel ban to Israel for Members of Parliament coming from the ruling party, cancellation of junkets to Israel etc. In an important form of legitimising and boosting the BDS movement, South African government Ministers, Members of Parliament (including our National Speaker) as well as officials at provincial and local levels routinely lend their support to BDS events, activities and programs (two years back BDS SA was part of an initiative that saw over 15 Ministers take a 24 hour fast for Palestine). These are just some of the incremental steps and sanctions by our government to hold Israel accountable.
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FLASHBACK ON BDS: SA CELEBS BACK THE CAMPAIGN |
South Africa has an increasing number of celebrities who are participating in Palestine solidarity events or backing the BDS movement. Artists like Simphiwe Dana and Tumi Molekane, film directors including Kagiso Lediga (Matwetwe) and John Trengove (Director of Inxeba), poets Lebohang Mashile and Natalia Molebatsi, comedians Nina Hastie, DeepFriedMan, Mashabela Galane, Riaad Moosa, authors Zakes Mda and Breyten Breytenbach, TV personalities Shashi Naidoo and Kuli Roberts as well as various others. Last year BDS SA played a primary role in reaching out to the South African band, Black Motion, successfully urging them to cancel their Israeli gig. In addition, BDS SA, with our partners also play a role in the sports boycott of Israel. In 2017 a successful campaign was run with the PSA against the hosting of an Israeli tennis team in SA, even with SA's then Minister of Sports boycotting the said tennis match. Our current Minister of Sports has also lent her support to several initiatives. Click here for a short video of the annual "Apartheid Ain't Funny" comedy tour.
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JOIN BDS SOUTH AFRICA'S EMAIL MAILING LIST
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA'S SUPPORT OF THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAELI APARTHEID |
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has long been a friend to us at BDS SA and a firm supporter of the Palestinian struggle against Israeli Apartheid.
Above is President Ramaphosa engaging with BDS activists and purchasing BDS material (including one of our BDS "boycott Israel" tote bags).
Ramaphosa, has previously said: "As long as that struggle persists we will be on the side of the Palestinians…we will always be on the right side because we know what is happening there, its gross apartheid taking place there and we cannot but countenance a situation which is a duplicate or replica of what we went through, that we are not going to apologise for.” Click here for a short 1 minute video with President Ramaphosa speaking on, what he considers, Israel's Apartheid policies.
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WHAT IS BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS)?
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The call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) was issued in 2005 by the Palestinians as a non-violent method to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and human rights abuses. It was inspired by the successful isolation campaign of Apartheid South Africa.
The BDS movement is backed internationally by prominent figures, including our own Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu and has gained support the world over from trade unions, academic associations, political parties, churches, grassroots movements, the LGBTQI community, student formations, artists and celebrities. It is also increasingly supported by progressive Jewish groups, including in Israel itself.
The BNC, which is based in Ramallah, is the head office of the international BDS movement. It is the largest coalition of Palestinian organisations and includes representatives from Palestinian political parties, civil society, trade unions, women's groups, youth movements, student bodies etc.
BDS South Africa, one of the organizations part of the BDS movement in this country, works closely with partner organizations in furthering various Palestine solidarity and boycott campaigns. BDS SA is led by an advisory board made up of a diverse group of people who serve in their personal capacities but are also members in several others organizations (our board includes a member of the SA Council of Churches and the SA Jews for a Free Palestine). Our current acting spokesperson is BDS SA Board Members, Tisetso Magama (former chairperson of Parliament's International Relations portfolio committee).
Other BDS organizations exist in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, USA, Canada, India, Japan, Jordan, UK, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Australia and elsewhere. BDS SA is presently leading a move to expand BDS chapters in other African countries as well.
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