By AGISANANG SCUFF
29 October 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation had an engagement yesterday with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, on her perspectives on the war in Gaza. Explaining the reasons behind the committee’s invitation to Albanese, the committee said the South African Parliament is a creature of South Africa’s democratic Constitution, which embraces a diversity of views and allows people to express their viewpoints without fear or favour.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Supra Mahuamapelo said South Africa has a long way to go in entrenching the values of non-racialism, non-sexism and justice, as espoused by former President Nelson Mandela, who was regarded as a terrorist by the Apartheid government but who became a world icon of democracy. Mahumapelo said the committee invited Albenese after she delivered an acclaimed Mandela Lecture.
“She commended South Africa’s progress in a number of areas and called on South Africans to continue with what Nelson Mandela started. She also commended South Africa for making Israel accountable for its genocidal actions by taking such a resolution to the International Court of Justice to ensure Israel faces justice. She urged South Africans to disallow anything that diminishes their support for the Palestinian cause and instead intensify their actions in encouraging the international community to join them.
“She encouraged the South African government to meet with European governments to amplify the sorry plight of Palestinians. We call on mass-based cultural movements to join forces with other progressive, activist global movements against the genocidal state of Israel to give impetus to the ceasefire and calls for peace and self-determination for Palestinians, to end Israel’s decades-long illegal occupation of Palestine,” he said.
Mahumapelo further said the brutal maiming of women and children in Palestine illustrates Israel’s unquenchable thirst for Palestinian blood. He also calls upon international sport bodies to isolate Israel, especially FIFA, given its global mass appeal.
“We need to engage FIFA to explain to it why it’s important for it to be part of this struggle rather than being a bystander. The committee resolved to ensure that the parliamentary resolution, which was taken during the 6th Parliament, is implemented by holding the department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Presidency accountable.
“The committee will also deliberate on the proposed Apartheid Bill on Israel to aid its adoption,” added Mahumapelo.
The Guardian 