The post belowis a summary of various statements made by Bongani Masuku against both South African Jews and the State of Israel. I should add that not all of the comments below are to be considered Hate Speech, particularly those in the section of statements directed against Israel. We continue to support Masuku's right to voice his opinion on Israel, however unpalatable it may be.
The SA Human Rights Commission specifically ruled on statements that were seen to incite violence and hatred amongst students during a speech at a rally at Wits University. Specifically, Masuku said:
The commission found that the "comments and statements made are of an extreme nature that advocate and imply that the Jewish and Israeli community are to be despised, scorned, ridiculed and thus subjecting them to ill-treatment on the basis of their religious affiliation."“COSATU has got members here even on this campus; we can make sure that for that side it will be hell”
“COSATU is with you, we will do everything to make sure that whether its at Wits University, whether its at Orange Grove, anyone who does not support equality and dignity, who does not support the rights of other people must face the consequences even if it means that we will do something that may necessarily cause what is regarded as harm…”
“…The following things are going to apply: any South African family who sends its son or daughter to be part of the Israeli Defence Force must not blame us if something happens to them with immediate effect…”
THREATS MADE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY BY BONGANI MASUKU, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SECRETARY OF THE CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA TRADE UNIONS (COSATU)
Compiled by SA Jewish Board of Deputies
1) COSATU to harass, intimidate and disrupt lives of all Jewish supporters of Israel
“We want to convey a message to the Jews in South Africa that our 1.9-million workers who are affiliated to COSATU are fully behind the people of Palestine… Any business owned by Israel supporters will be a target of workers in South Africa” [Source: Address at COSATU-Palestinian Solidarity Committee rally in Raedene, 6 February 2009].
"COSATU is with you, we will do everything to make sure that whether it’s at Wits University, whether its at Orange Grove, anyone who does not support equality and dignity, who does not support the rights of other people must face the consequences even if it means that we will do something that may necessarily cause what is regarded as harm …[Source: Address at public meeting on Wits University Campus, 5 March 2009]
Speaking on Wits campus on 5 March this year, Masuku used the expression “make their lives hell” on four occasions when referring to what COSATU intended to do regarding those who supported Israel. This included a specific reference to students on Wits campus ("COSATU has got members here even on this campus; we can make sure that for that side it will be hell”) [Source: Address at public meeting on Wits University Campus, 5 March 2009]
"Bongani says hi to you all as we struggle to liberate Palestine from the racists, fascists and zionists who belong to the era of their Friend Hitler! We must not apologise, every Zionist must be made to drink the bitter medicine they are feeding our broathers (sic) and sisters in Palestine. We must target them, expose them and doo allthat (sic) is needed to subject them to pereptual suffering until they withdraw from the land of others and stop their savage attacks on human dignity" [Source: Comment left by Masuku on supernatural.blogs.com/, 6/2/2009]
2) Threats to Target Individual Jewish Families
On 5 March, Mosuku indicated that vigilante action would be taken against South African families whose children were serving in the Israeli Defense Force:
“The following things are going to apply: any South African family, I want to repeat so that it is clear for anyone, any South African family who sends its son or daughter to be part of the Israeli Defence Force must not blame us when something happens to them with immediate effect” [Source: Address at public meeting on Wits University Campus, 5 March 2009]
The biggest problem, said Cosatu International Secretary, Omgabongani Masuku, is with Jewish South Africans who hold duel citizenship with Israel. He condemned the government for allowing South Africans to be involved in what he called “missionaries of Apartheid”. “Israel is spreading and defending Apartheid and we say that South African families who contribute to this must be targeted.” [Source: Voice of the Cape website 20-26 February 2009]
3) Jewish supporters of Israel unwelcome in South Africa and should be encouraged/forced to leave
“…all who have not accepted or woken up to the reality that we now live in a democratic South Africa where racism or promotion of it is a crime, are free to leave the country. I repeat, whether Jew or whosoever does so, must not just be encouraged but forced to leave, for such a crime is so heinous it cant be tolerated”. [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to Anthony Posner, 13 February 2009]
“…all who deny that occupation is wrong must be encouraged to leave South Africa before they infect our society with much more racism”. [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to multiple recipients, 13 February 2009]
4) Dehumanisation and demonisation of Jews who support Israel
“All Jews who have risen above the fascist parochial paranoia of Israel have changed our views on Jews, as we thought all of them are inhumane…” [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to multiple recipients, 25 February 2009]
“Whenever we speak about their evil acts, we must be called anti-semitic, but they have the god-ordained right to murder, rape and kill innocent children in Palestine. … [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to Anthony Posner, 13 February 2009]
"I am aware that so many Jews are on the side of justice and only those Jews are people I hold in high esteem, but not those who silently support the massacres, but expect us to regard them as human beings." [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to multiple recipients, 25 February 2009]
STATEMENTS MADE AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL BY BONGANI MASUKU, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SECRETARY OF THE CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA TRADE UNIONS (COSATU)
"Israel supported apartheid South Africa and assisted in the murder of many of our comrades and still works with the most reactionary and murderous regimes the world over, including Colombia (also financed by the US)"
"The source of the war is the occupation of Israeli and not rockets of Hamas or Al-Aqsa matrys. Any people who are occupied have a duty to fight as we all did, we would never support people who only submit to invaders, but will actively support those who are fighting against colonialists and settlers, who have one intention, occupation to steal other people’s land. No jew, however much his hatred will ever deny that FACT that occupation is evil and an injustice."
"Israel is the client and puppet of US imperialism and responsible for protecting the oil interests of the west, which itself was stolen from the Arabs" [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to multiple recipients, 25 February 2009]
“The simple thing is that Israel is the source of the problem, without occupation, there should be no need for rockets, full stop!!!” [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to Anthony Posner, 13 February 2009]" The issue is that Israeli must GET OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE’S LANDS. There would be no need for rockets if there was no occupation, full stop. I am not interested in the hell about rockets, as if there should be pity, you are the agressors, get out of other people’s lands, you greedy lots! We waged an armed struggle against the Afrikaner murderers here and they are in their rights to wage their own struggle until you vacate their land." [Source: e-mail from Masuku sent to Anthony Posner, 13 February 2009]
Previously at IAS
- COSATU's Masuku guilty of hate speech
- Bongani Masuku at Wits University
- COSATU's Masuku calls on Zionist Jews to leave SA
Useful Links
- Harry's Place - Bongani Masuku and invited guest of UCU
- Harry's Place - BRICUP and Bongani
If any Jew/Israeli has dual citizenship in SA there,s absolutely zilch any member of Cosatu or it,s affiliates can do about it and if someone stops another Jew at the airport and wants to know who what where concerning fighting in Gaza tell him to take a hike .
Posted by: the Hebrew prophet | January 10, 2010 at 17:11
The source of the war is the occupation of Israeli and not rockets of Hamas or Al-Aqsa matrys.
Posted by: aion kinah | March 02, 2010 at 07:23
A true friend is forever a friend.They are with friends -- the people with whom we often share our deepest thoughts.
Posted by: Vibram | June 28, 2011 at 08:51