The African National Congress (ANC) has expressed its satisfaction with the recent interim decision made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), viewing it as a significant victory for the people of Palestine.
The ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) convened at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg to witness the ICJ’s ruling. South Africa had appealed to the court to enforce an order that would ensure the preservation of Palestinian lives and grant them improved access to humanitarian aid, given the ongoing impasse in Gaza.
During the reading of the ruling by ICJ President Joan Donoghue, President Cyril Ramaphosa could only muster a single word in response: “Wow.” The ANC NEC members, after hearing the ruling, erupted into song.
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ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula emphasized the party’s unwavering commitment to standing with the oppressed. He reflected on the support South Africa received from the international community during the fight against apartheid, stating, “When we were facing apartheid, the world never forsook us.
We are free today because the people of the world stood with us in the fight against injustice. It is only right for South Africa to stand on the side of justice against any form of injustice.”
Deputy Minister of International Relations, Alvin Botes, highlighted the South African government’s refusal to remain passive in the face of a potential genocide. He emphasized that the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly the Palestinian people, is a key priority within the country’s foreign policy.
The ANC has called upon Israel to adhere to the ruling of the ICJ. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, speaking on the sidelines of the ANC NEC meeting, expressed his belief that the ICJ ruling has put an end to Israeli exceptionalism.
Lamola criticized Israel for behaving as if it were not bound by international law. He stated, “We see this as a victory for international law, for the children in Gaza, and for Palestine as a whole. It signifies the end of Israeli exceptionalism, where they believed they were immune from accountability within the framework of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations.”
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