The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and its partners have organised a march to Parliament in Cape Town on Saturday, 5 October, for the South African government to implement the Apartheid Bill and sanction Israel, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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In a press statement ahead of the upcoming march, PSC Cape Town called for South Africa to take the next critical step in fully implementing the United Nations (UN) International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (Apartheid Convention).
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While South Africa ratified the convention in May 2024, PSC emphasised that the government must now pass legislation to align with its international obligations, underscoring the country’s commitment to justice and human rights.
The march, set to begin in District Six and proceed to Parliament, aims to intensify this call for legislative action.
‘Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed more than 41000 Palestinians in Gaza which includes close to 16 500 children by bullets, bombs, beating, or having them die beneath the rubble. Experts estimate that up to 186 000 could be attributable to the current war in Gaza, says the PSC.
‘Israel has also destroyed critical infrastructure in Gaza, leading to widespread hunger and denial of medical treatment.’
‘These atrocities, pogroms and genocide have since extended into the West Bank.’
PSC highlights that the Israeli apartheid regime has extended its aggression to Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, provoking these nations into potential regional conflict.
The assassination of leaders like Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas) and Hasan Nasrallah (Hezbollah) underscores Israel’s blatant disregard for sovereignty, posing a significant threat to global peace and international humanitarian law.
On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must end its occupation, dismantle settlements, provide reparations to Palestinian victims, and facilitate the return of displaced persons.
PSC adds that despite this ruling, Israel continues to defy international law, escalating its attacks on Palestinian civilians and infrastructure while employing similar tactics across the region.
The organisation asserts that South Africa’s unique historical role in the fight against apartheid positions it to lead in implementing international law.
‘The “Apartheid Bill,” drafted by the PSC Cape Town and its partners, is a step toward operationalising South Africa’s commitment to the Apartheid Convention.’
‘The Bill is designed to hold entities accountable for human rights violations and will provide the legal framework for South Africa to implement Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) and establish Apartheid-Free Zones across the country.’
‘The march on 5 October 2024 will culminate in South Africans demanding that Parliament pass the “Apartheid Bill”, which will domesticate the UN International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid into South African law.’
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Picture: Gallo
