SAJBD Letter to the President
10 January 2024
President Ramaphosa Republic of South Africa
PresidentRSA@presidency.gov.za
President Ramaphosa – clarification of meeting 13 December 2023
Dear President Ramaphosa
We met with you in good faith last month to discuss with you extremely serious issues for South African citizens.
The agenda of the meeting was to discuss:
1. The highest levels of antisemitism in SA including violence.
2. Boycott of South African Jewish businesses
3. Consular support for South Africans in Israel.
After sending repeated requests for a meeting, at very short notice we were informed that you could meet with us on the 13th of December. In SA’s submission to the ICJ we note that this meeting is cited in support of South Africa’s case against Israel. We realise that the preparation of your case against Israel was already in process. Your inclusion of our meeting in your complaint, twists the purpose and the substance of our discussions. Given the sequence of events, we have to consider your motivation in meeting with us.
We are not the representatives of the Israeli Government, as we made clear in the meeting. The meeting should not have been weaponised in this way.
The impression has been created that the meeting was for an ulterior purpose that serves to further fracture the social fabric of South African society.
Our sense of betrayal will in no way deter us from our ongoing commitment to building a better South Africa for all.
Yours sincerely,
Zev Krengel Prof Karen Milner
President National Chairperson