10 February 2025

Al Qalam Reporter

An Israel lobby group that went to court this week to force the SA Government to reverse its decision not to support or recognize Miss SA’s participation in the Miss Universe pageant in Israel, suffered a “bruising defeat” when the matter was thrown out by the Gauteng High Court.

Legal action against the Government of South Africa was launched by the pro-Israeli front organization called “Citizens of Integrity” that was led by one of the founders of the South African Friends of Israel organisation, Mark Hyman.

It was instituted following the South African government’s withdrawal of support to the Miss SA company following that company’s decision to go to “Apartheid Israel” and participate in this year’s controversial Miss Universe pageant there.

The human rights organization #Africa4Palestine said in a statement that it welcomed the decision by Judge Van Der Westhuizen in the Palace of Justice (Gauteng High Court) to dismiss the court action brought by members of the Israeli lobby against the South African government. “In essence the South African government has defeated the Israeli lobby’s law-fare attempts to ban the cultural boycott of Israel,” it said.

Commenting further on the court’s verdict, Tisetso Magama, spokesperson for #Africa4Palestine said: “We welcome that the court case by “Citizens of Integrity” and the Israeli lobby was struck off the roll as their intention was to bully our South African government into ending its support for human rights and for the Palestinian people. The days that the Israeli lobby could intimidate and try to muzzle expression and support for the oppressed people of Palestine are over.

“We are proud to have been outside court protesting in support of our government’s position and furthermore we are proud that we were also inside court, through our Amicus Curiae (Friends of the Court) application, backing South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Comrade Nathi Mthethwa.

“On Monday #Africa4Palestine submitted a high court application to be Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) in the matter. The application was well received and we thank our legal team led by attorney Shaa’ista Bulbulia of Govender Patel Dladla Incorporated and Advocate Mohammed Desai of the Johannesburg Bar.

#Africa4Palestine’s Amicus Curiae application was supported by a wide group of South African organizations, including the Women’s Cultural Group, Media Review Network (MRN), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Young Hearts 4 Palestine, Youth 4 Palestine, Uwais Qarni Center, YCL, NC4P, KZN PSF, Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), Association of Muslim Accountants and Lawyers (AMAL), FOCUS, Ex Political Prisoners Association of South Africa and others.

“Finally we commend the legal team from the office of South Africa’s State Attorney and specifically Advocate Thami Ncongwane (SC) and Advocate Namadzavho Rasalanavho of the Tshwane Society of Advocates.

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