SA Jews must not pick sides in ANC fight

One of my all time favorite films is ‘a Man for All Seasons’, that tragic tale of Sir Thomas Moore. In particular I love the contrast between the moral fortitude of Moore and the actions of his obsequious and conniving servant. While Moore’s refusal to deviate from his principles results in his dramatic fall from grace, his cunning servant on the other hands manages to continually improve his standing in society. In the final scene this parallel rises and fall of fortunes is brought to a dramatic climax when it is the servant who is given the responsibility to administer the guillotine that ends Moore’s life.

Despite understanding the risks (as evidenced by the movie) I have always advocated for the Jewish community to adopt a more Moorean approach to dealing with the ANC government. Even in the current context of a split ANC, I would hope that our official representatives speak out in favor of defending the constitution and highlight the very serious risks that many in the new ruling coalition pose to our young democracy. But I know given the position of the powers in this community that sadly this will never happen.

In fact the very opposite is underway. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies seems to be engaging in a charm offensive with the new ANC administration. According to the Above Board column in last week’s Jewish Report, not only have they organized a meeting with the President for select Jewish businessmen, but Motlanthe has in fact been an honored guest at SAJBD chairman Zev Krengel’s Shabbas table.

Values aside, given the current political uncertainty in the country, openly aligning the community with the Motlanthe/Zuma/ Malema camp is an extremely dangerous strategy. There is a very real chance that former defense minister Mosiuoa Lekota and his new ‘movement’ could cause a significant break within the ruling party. What if it happens that in elections next year this new ‘movement’, together with other more established political parties, actually manages to gain enough votes to form a coalition government? How will this new/old government now be disposed towards the Jews given that we did not hesitate to jump in bed with their enemies at our first opportunity? Even if this outcome has even a 10% probability, this is not the sort of gamble that the leadership of this community should be making with our future.

We have already experienced the consequences of this sort of mistake in the past. Would anyone deny that the SAJBD’s relationship with the old Nationalist government did not hurt the communities standing in the new South Africa? I fear our leaders are once again making the same mistakes. I am not asking the SAJBD for grand Moorean moral stands, but at least to be pragmatic in being pragmatists. Now is the time to take a wait-and-see approach. But if you just cannot resist ingratiating yourselves with the new ANC administration, at least keep it quiet!

Comments

[Religious Fundamentalist 1]

If it's a free country, it should make no difference.

But politics is politics and we've spent 2000 yrs in obsequity, it's a strategy that hasn't worked well, but better than anything else.

Go Zev! pucker up.

[Lynda]

The businessmen met with government or with the ANC? We need to always try build relations with government, whoever they may be.

[zev krengel]

Your post of 15 October (“SA Jews must not pick sides in ANC fight”) is critical of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies for allegedly “openly aligning the [Jewish] community with the Motlanthe/Zuma/Malema camp”. Such an interpretation is highly misleading, not to say alarmist.

From the outset, it must be stressed that the SAJBD is not a political party. Its primary mandate is to safeguard the Jewish way of life in South Africa, while at the same time leading the Jewish community in being a role player in the development of South Africa. This aim we pursue through networking and building relationships with the government of the day, and with other political parties, different faith groups and NGOs. We will not, indeed cannot, take sides in political disputes.

The Board’s recent engagement with government and the ruling African National Congress in no way means that it is “taking sides”. In fact, the Board meets with political parties from rights across the political spectrum. This year, for example, we have met with the leadership of the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party and African Christian Democratic Party. In the event of a new political party being formed by disaffected ANC members, we will certainly seek to meet with them as well.

Yet again, we see the same tired comparisons being made with the Jewish leadership of bygone years and its relationship with the old Nationalist government and that of today. This, too, is incorrect as well as unfair. During the apartheid era, the Board was compelled by the circumstances of the day to deal with a minority government that had no legitimacy, either amongst the great majority of the population or internationally. This is diametrically opposed to the situation as it exists today. We have a democratically elected government, a constitution that safeguards human rights at the highest level, an independent judiciary and an equally independent media, amongst other democratic safeguards.

It is true that any signs of incipient totalitarianism is something we all need to be extremely vigilant about, and certain recent developments are indeed a cause for concern. For all that, however, South African democracy remains vibrant and healthy. The fact that we have seen a regime change take place swiftly, bloodlessly and entirely in accordance with democratic procedures is surely proof of this. So far as criticizing the government of the day goes, our record shows that we have been willing do so, and strenuously, particularly where Israel is concerned.

In conclusion, promoting Jewish civil rights and working to ensure Jewish security, the Board often has to walk a difficult tightrope. Lobbying does not just mean talking to your friends but also trying to influence those who hold different views. On certain occasions, it does become appropriate for the Board to speak out on contentious issues, and our record shows that we have frequently done so. At other times, however, quiet diplomacy is often the preferable course of action. Whichever route we choose to go, it is always taken only after carefully assessing each situation on its merits and deciding which response is the most appropriate.

I would also like to point out that, contrary to what was implied in the above post, Kgalema Motlanthe was not a recent Shabbat guest at my home. This, in fact, took place three years ago.

ZEV KRENGEL
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
SA Jewish Board of Deputies