Chaos Erupts At Johannesburg Council Meeting Over Mention Of Nelson Mandela By DA Official

A City of Johannesburg Council meeting took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when a Jewish councillor from the DA (Democratic Alliance) was heckled for mentioning Nelson Mandela’s name.

Councilor Daniel Shay faced opposition from fellow councillors when he referenced Mandela’s stance on Zionism during his speech on service delivery in Orange Farm.

Amidst the chaos, an opposition councillor interrupted Shay, stating, “Speaker, on a point of order, one cannot speak of Mandela when Mandela was against Zionists. He must speak about Hertzog, Jan Van Riebeeck, and the rest.”

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The situation escalated further when some councillors began chanting “Free Palestine,” reflecting the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In an attempt to restore order, Speaker of Council Margaret Arnolds called for calm in the chambers.

“Councillors, can I have order, please? Let us refrain from heckling the councillor. I urge everyone to maintain decorum,” Arnolds pleaded.

Adding to the turmoil, one councillor raised a complaint about Shay’s choice of tie, which featured a star emblem associated with Israel.

“I just want to find out if that tie the councillor is wearing is allowed in council. It has an emblem. Is that emblem permitted in council?” questioned the councillor.

Shay responded by clarifying that the emblem on his tie was the Star of David, a symbol of the Jewish faith. “If they have any issues with Jewish religious symbols, they should state it openly,” Shay retorted.

Coming to Shay’s defense, DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku emphasized the importance of freedom of religion and expression, as protected by the constitution.

“Speaker, freedom of religion is a fundamental right protected by our constitution. It is concerning that, for the first time in these chambers, someone’s religion or expression of their religion is being questioned. I urge caution and respect,” Kayser-Echeozonjoku asserted.