South Africa’s Ambassador to Jordan, Tselane Mokuena, praised Jordan’s stance in supporting the Palestinian cause, emphasizing that Jordan was at the forefront of countries that rushed to provide aid during the aggression on Gaza.

The ambassador commended King Abdullah II’s efforts, stating, “I have never seen any head of state take such action. We saw the King himself delivering aid from the air, as Jordan was among the leading countries sending airborne assistance to Gaza.”

She also highlighted the humanitarian role of Jordanian field hospitals in Gaza, noting that a large number of injured Palestinians were treated in Jordan. She described this as a “sacrifice that will never be forgotten.”

The ambassador praised the unified stance of Arab countries during the recent Arab Summit, where Arab states reaffirmed their support for Palestinian rights and rejected any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land, stressing the need for reconstruction in the affected areas.

She emphasized that her country considers support for the Palestinian cause a moral duty rooted in South Africa’s historical struggle against apartheid. She noted that international solidarity was a crucial element in South Africa’s fight against racial discrimination, affirming: “There is no freedom for South Africa unless Palestine is free.”

In a radio interview on Radio Al-Balad with journalist Mohammad Al-Ersan, the ambassador pointed out the striking similarities between Israeli occupation practices in Palestine and the apartheid system that once existed in South Africa. She explained that restrictions imposed on Palestinians, such as military checkpoints, racial and religious discrimination, make the current situation even worse than apartheid.

The diplomat stated that her experience in Jordan had deepened her understanding of the Palestinian issue, noting that the resemblance between what happened in South Africa during apartheid and what Palestinians face today is evident, but even harsher in Palestine.

She pointed out that movement restrictions imposed on Palestinians make daily life extremely difficult, as they cannot travel between villages without passing through Israeli checkpoints, where they may have to wait for hours—even in emergencies such as seeking medical treatment.

She added that the repression witnessed in Palestine today surpasses what the people of South Africa endured, explaining, “Despite everything we went through, our cities were never completely destroyed, and mosques, churches, cultural institutions, and hospitals were not erased as they are in Palestine today.”

She also emphasized that Palestinians who are displaced from their land are not allowed to return, unlike South Africa’s experience, where the right of return was recognized in 1994, allowing exiled citizens to return to their homes.

South Africa’s Legal Battle Against Israel

Regarding the case South Africa filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for committing genocide in Gaza, the ambassador stressed that her country had acted fully within legal boundaries, citing its international human rights commitments. She affirmed that South Africa would not back down despite facing political and economic pressure.

She also addressed South Africa’s land reform law, rejecting claims that it targets white citizens or seizes land without compensation. She clarified that the law aims to rectify the legacy of apartheid, where land was historically confiscated from Africans without compensation. She noted that after 30 years of democracy, only 4% of this land has been reclaimed.

She explained, “The President of South Africa has signed a new land expropriation law, derived from legislation enacted in 1975 during the apartheid era, when authorities implemented policies of land confiscation without compensation.”

"These laws date back to 1913 when the apartheid government issued the Land Act, allowing the seizure of vast areas owned by indigenous communities and restricting them to small, resource-poor lands. In 1936, this law was amended to further tighten control over African and colored communities, leading to their marginalization and denial of property rights."

"During apartheid, Africans, Indians, and colored people were prohibited from owning land in vast parts of the country and were forced to live in impoverished, agriculturally unviable areas, without any compensation for their confiscated properties."

"Today, with the signing of this new law, questions arise about how to address the legacy of these policies, especially since the democratic system established after 1994 promised fair land distribution reforms.”

Unified Popular and Official Stance in South Africa on Palestine

The ambassador concluded by highlighting the strong alignment between the South African government and its people in supporting Palestinian freedom. She stated:

"The South African public overwhelmingly supports the Palestinian cause, as evidenced by the continuous protests for months. This support is not a recent development but has existed for years. Many in South Africa see a strong parallel between the suffering of Palestinians under Israeli occupation and their own struggle against apartheid.”