Kameraad Mhambi

2 Responses

1. Lilliput says:

   February 5, 2009 at 4:57 am

   Just thought you would want to read this – I’m not sure where it was published but will find out.

   Yesterday at 3:36pm
   By and large, we South Africans have much to be proud of – a new dispensation that embraced us all within the arena of the “Rainbow Nation” irrespective of race, colour, creed or religious affiliation; an inspirational President who’s name reverberated throughout the world as a shining light unto the nations – all this in the face of general despair, exacerbated by poverty, famine, strife and dreadful, ongoing instances of man’s inhumanity to man.
   A mere 14 years later, lined up amongst the world’s potential failures, we have to ask ourselves how we so rapidly declined to this ignominious state, faced with a likely leadership represented by such luminaries as Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema et al – a thought too awful to contemplate. The Mandela’s have gone, never to return and with them the faint hope that a moral and just society, now seemingly still-born, would germinate in the hearts and minds of both our leaders and those they rule.

   From almost nowhere, we are aware of a new persona in our midst; one who’s name, only days ago, would have meant little to most of us – Ms. Fatima Hajaig, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Whether this woman will remain at her post or be summarily dismissed for gross abuse of her position, coupled with utterances that can be accurately construed as “hate speech” directed at the Jews of South Africa”, is the question. The answer is anxiously awaited; not just by the Jewish sector but by the entire country as it will determine whether there is in fact an inclusive place for all ethnic minorities in South Africa or whether the dream has finally expired.

   Two events highlighted the Deputy Minister’s true colours; a meeting called by herself with the Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Dov Segev-Steinberg within a few days of Israel’s assault against Hamas, followed some days thereafter by a public gathering which she addressed at Laudium, an area with unquestioningly pro-Palestinian leanings.

   Organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in association with the Palestinian Solidarity Committee, the SA Council of Churches and various NGOs, the meeting unequivocally (and predictably) defined the sole villain as Israel with the Gazans the sole victims.

   In her address Ms. Hajaig stated (as broadcast on Radio Islam) that “America, as well as other Western countries, is in the grip of Jewish money power. They, in fact, control (America) no matter which government comes into power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barack Obama or George Bush; the control of most Western countries is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else.” This enlightened insight into the specter of Jewish money influencing and controlling world events, the banking sector, the media and almost everything else of any strategic importance, was met with rapturous approval by the crowd for whom every word endorsed their already warped state of mind.

   Hajaig’s utterances could have been lifted from the pages of the most persistent anti-Semitic conspiracy theory of all time, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, a Jew-hating diatribe contrived in Russia at the turn of the century and branded as a forgery in two high profile court cases in Switzerland and South Africa. No other publication has done more to eternally brand Jews with the medieval accusations of the infamous “blood libels”; as being the killers of Christ and, above all, the “indisputable fact” that Jews surreptitiously rule the world – quite a feat considering that Jews number no more than 14 million worldwide.

   This would suggest that no world leader has ever had a mind of his own with every major decision sanctioned by this insidious group of Jewish, black-hooded, Illuminati. Considering that the developed world enjoys a relatively advanced standard of living – including that enjoyed by the Minister herself – it would seem that, if anything, these Jewish puppet-masters deserve a vote of deep gratitude for a job well done.

   But, as The Deputy Minister has so clearly revealed, truth is not the issue when it comes to feeding the frenzy of inborn hatred and prejudice that applies uniquely to the Jewish world who’s successes, it would seem, are resented but grudgingly tolerated in the interest of self-interest. So, they continually find themselves in line for hypocritical criticism and condemnation of a type that is non-existent against any other sector.

   This was a shocking and dangerous display of Jew-baiting that would have found comfort with anything uttered by the emerging Nazi party in the 30′s. The words and effect were the same : “The Jewish conspiracy lives !”

   Further, said the Minister, “there had not been a single day since the creation of Israel when a Palestinian had not been killed or injured by it.”

   Predictably, threatening statements followed against the local Jewish community – that those with Zionist sympathies be expelled from the country and that action was warranted against South African Jews serving in the IDF. “The common enemy is making inroads in South Africa,” said one; “The Zionists must be kicked out of the shores of South Africa,” said another. Yet another, while praising those South African Jews “who had come out against the IDF, warned those who had not done so that they had “better watch out because the winds of change are blowing.”

   Eddie Makue, the General Secretary of the SA Council of Churches denied that the fight against Israel was anti-Semitic saying (to loud approval) that he … only wanted to bring his “Jewish brothers and sisters onto the ‘right path’ … otherwise you will be mowed down in the annals of history as people who refuse to support justice and peace.”

   Finally, echoes of Nazi Germany were clearly evoked by a proposal to boycott so-called “Jewish businesses” (many of which are public companies). An extensive list was provided so that everyone knew exactly who to target. Jewish commercial expertise coupled with the vast contribution made by Jewish enterprise in establishing not only a sound local economy but providing countless jobs in all sectors, was of no consequence. What mattered right then, fuelled by the Minister and others, was the hysterical Kenyan/Asian equation. Logic had no place. The fact that Jews could be publicly threatened to “toe the line, or else” in the presence of this Minister indicates that her own personal sentiments achieved the desired effect.

   At the acrimonious meeting with Ambassador Steinberg, Hajaig asked whether Mr. Elias Inbram, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent and spokesman for the embassy, who accompanied Steinberg, was “a token Black.” “When your colleagues in Europe attend a meeting like this do they also take someone along like the person sitting next to you “? When Steinberg replied that he failed to understand the question the Minister turned to her aide and snidely remarked, “I think we are dealing with an Ambassador who doesn’t understand questions.”

   One can only wonder whether she would have posed the same question to the American Ambassador Eric Bost, an African American, or Raymond Brown – also an African American – who occupies the position of Councilor for Political Affairs. I dare say, not.

   If we are to assume that this despicable tirade by the Deputy Minister is acceptable to our government then we are, indeed, in serious trouble. It would clearly indicate that internal discipline at the highest level has not only broken down to an alarming degree but that Ministers can willfully incite hatred against a minority group of their choosing without fear of retribution. Further, it would show that those essential elements of human rights which are enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, are under serious attack and in clear danger of being discarded, particularly in the hands of an incoming executive that has already expressed their irritation with certain aspects not to their liking. Even if we as a community have recourse to the Human Rights Council and, ultimately to the courts, the mere fact that we have to resort to such action is disquietening in itself.

   One can only ask, in the interests of not only the Jewish minority but the entire country who’s concern about this xenophobic display should be equal, what would constitute an appropriate response ? A mere apology, issued by the Minister on the instruction of her superiors would be meaningless. Nothing short of her sacking would eliminate the cancer she has propagated. Will the govenment have the guts to do this ? Past history does not engender much hope.

   (Since writing this article the Minister, today, issued a public apology on all facets through all facets of the media. Was it satisfactory ? No. While apologising for “the hurt she caused to the citizens of South Africa and the Jews in particular” she failed to withdraw or apologise for her original comments.)

   As for Eddie Makue – one can only hope that he and the SA Council of Churches he represents take note that those elements of the Jewish community that wish to align themselves with Israel need not his approval to do so; nor do we require assistance in finding “the right path”. We have managed perfectly well for the past 3500 years. His inflamatory rhetoric “that we will be ‘mowed down’ in the annals of history” should be of interest to the Human Rights Council as an inflamatory and direct threat made before an emotionally stoked audience.

   Meanwhile, today (3rd February) COSATU (Congress of SA Trade Unions) announced that there will be a refusal to unload an Israeli vessel due to dock in Durban on Friday, coupled with a “major” demonstration outside the offices of the Zionist Federation and Jewish Board of Deputies on Friday afternoon. We are reliably informed that there will be a heavy police presence. I firmly believe that these developments have been stimulated by the Minister’s statement.

   It should be of deep concern to the government that Ms. Hajaig’s behaviour has not gone unnoticed around the civilized world. E-mails and media attention bear testimony to the shock and concern felt by politicians, individuals and organizations who find it inconceivable that the land that spawned Mandela could have spawned Fatima Hajaig. But – should we be surprised ?

   Victor Gordon
   Pretoria
2. Sean says:

   February 11, 2009 at 1:39 pm

   Did not figure you to be a Martin Wolf fan. Interesting.