Hundreds of people marched to Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Labor Day, expressing solidarity with Palestinians during the protest.
One banner read “Vote in Solidarity with Palestine”, reflecting the sentiments shared by many participants.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing a congress of the Congress of South African Trade Unions at the stadium, highlighted South Africa’s commitment to human rights across the world.
He stated : “As South Africa, we have stood up to defend the rights of those in other parts of the world who are currently being subjected to torture, violence and genocide.” Ramaphosa also expressed strong support for the Palestinian people, saying that “our freedom, comrade, is not complete until the people of Palestine are free and liberated.”
The South African government has long publicly supported the Palestinian people and criticized Israel’s policies. This solidarity is deeply rooted in South Africa’s history, where many citizens compare Israel’s actions towards the Palestinians toapartheid who reigned in their own country. Israel rejects these accusations and denies any form of apartheid or genocide in Gaza.
Support for the Palestinian cause is a hot topic in South Africa, where feelings toward Israel are often polarized. Protests like this reflect the strength of opinions and beliefs in the country.
