SA should terminate all relationships with Israeli universities and colleges, science, technology and innovation minister Blade Nzimande said in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
During a question-and-answer session with MPs, the minister was asked by EFF MP Nazier Paulsen whether SA should not adopt a law banning all relations with Israel, noting that boycotts, sanctions and disinvestment had assisted in the fight against apartheid SA.
“Well, whether a bill or not may work, is a subject that can be considered by parliament itself,” Nzimande replied.
“But what I agree with is that as far as I am concerned we should terminate all relations with Israeli universities and colleges. As a matter of fact, more than 100 university professors in Gaza have been killed, and all the universities in Gaza are destroyed. The schooling system is gone. I don't know what sane South African would like us to collaborate with such murderers and pursuers of genocide,” Nzimande said.
The minister added that he was not aware of any of the entities falling under his department that were working with Israel. If he found out that that was so, he would be have to act on that, he said.
Parliament has adopted a resolution that SA must suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel until there is a ceasefire, and close down its embassy. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in the National Assembly last week in reply to a question by EFF leader Julius Malema that the matter was still being considered by the executive.
SA asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023 year for an order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its crackdown against Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Gaza.
The court concluded that it was plausible that Israel’s actions in Gaza Strip could amount to genocide and issued provisional measures, in which it ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts contrary to the convention, but did not order Israel to suspend its military campaign.
The case is proceeding.
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