SAJBD calls for tragic situation not to be used as a political weapon

4 June 2024

The killing of Halima Hoosen-Preston and the attacks on her family members is a heinous crime which the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemns in the strongest terms.  We trust that justice will take its course. 

Today, Grayson Beare appeared in the Durban Magistrates’ Court and the case was remanded to 11 June for bail application and for Beare to undergo mental assessment.  It is clear from a video that has gone viral (the ethics of it aside) that Beare was not of sound mind.

Beare’s actions or views do not represent the Jewish community who have expressed sympathy to the families for their loss and pray for a speedy recovery for those injured.  Our thoughts are with them at this heartbreaking time.

Outside of the court, EFF KZN Provincial Chairperson, Commissar Mongezi Twala, addressing the crowd who amassed there, that, “starting from today that we cut the ugly throats of the Jewish” (sic) and we must “cut the head of the snake” to which members of the crowd said “thank you”.

This call for violence against the Jewish community is unacceptable, and the SAJBD will be investigating a case of hate speech against him.  His comments come in the wake of a statement issued by Africa for Palestine (as just one example of the anti-Israel lobby denigrating the South African Jewish community) who call Jews in this country “violent” and “aggressive”.  As can be seen by the scenes outside of the court, this is an inversion of the truth, inflammatory and dangerous. 

It is appalling and unacceptable that a tragic situation has been turned into vilification campaign of the broader Jewish community. It is also totally reckless, bigoted and inappropriate to hold all the members of a religion responsible for a reprehensible act of an unstable individual. 

We again express our sympathies to the Hoosen-Preston family and friends and call on all leaders to not further inflame an already volatile situation.

Issued by Karen Milner on behalf of SAJBD, 4 June 2024