South Africa’s leader pledges to ‘excise’ antisemitism
SOUTH AFRICAN President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke at Cape Town’s largest synagogue this Rosh Hashanah in what is believed to be the first time a South African head of state has delivered his message in person.
Mr Ramaphosa told a capacity audience at the Gardens Shul that the Jewish community was “ideally placed” to cultivate entrepreneurship and create employment in South Africa.
Addressing Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, he said: “I was enormously heartened when you said that the Jewish community, through its business leaders, is prepared to come forward with proposals to create jobs — that, Chief Rabbi, was music to my ears.
“There’s a great deal of wisdom amongst Jewish leaders and business people that we’d like to mine to improve our economy.”
Mr Ramaphosa warned of the necessity for vigilance against all forms of intolerance, abuse and discrimination. “We must excise from our society any manifestations of antisemitism,” he said.
“We must respond to antisemitism with the same resolve as we respond to any act or statement that seeks to demean any faith, race, gender or ethnic group.”
The president is driving a controversial effort to redistribute land in South Africa to address racial disparities in ownership. He said he was certain his government would find a solution providing “the clarity and certainty that is sought by landless South Africans, landowners and investors alike.”
On the Middle East, Mr Ramaphosa said South Africa was “clear and unequivocal” in its support for a Palestinian state, together with the “right of the state of Israel to exist in peace and security with its neighbours.”
Chief Rabbi Goldstein said the elevation of Mr Ramaphosa to presidency in February, replacing Jacob Zuma, was “a great victory for freedom and democracy and a rejection of the ghastly attempted state capture for the personal enrichment of a select few.”
The Chief Rabbi pledged the partnership of the South African Jewish community in developing the country: “Mr President, we are here for South Africa. Our sleeves are rolled up and we are ready to work with you.”
“We as a community have breadth and depth of talent and resource and have already contributed so much to the ongoing development of South Africa.
“But, today, we commit to continue with partnership and deepen and broaden it in everything that we do.”
The Chief Rabbi also warned against threats to downgrade the South African embassy in Israel to a liaison office.
He said: “To accuse Israel of apartheid is a libellous defamation of the Jewish state and an insult to the victims of the real apartheid.
“To downgrade is to become irrelevant and is to give up on the South African dream of dialogue and discussion.”