Kathrada Foundation rejects anti-Semitism claims levelled against Board member
21 May 2020
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation expresses its disdain at the baseless and damaging accusations levelled at one of its Board members, Professor Achille Mbembe, which labels him and his intellectual stance anti-Semitic.
The Foundation entreaties the German Embassy in South Africa to convey the demand for a reprimand to the German Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) politician, Lorenz Deutsch, and Dr Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Combatting Anti-Semitism for their attack on Mbembe, by the relevant authorities in Germany. Deutsch’s signature appears on a letter, later promoted by Klein, which called on the Parliament of North-Rhine Westphalia to ban Mbembe from delivering a speech at a cultural event.
Mbembe is a respected and leading member in the global academic community and his intellectual work has always been in the service of a more just, humane and equal global society. His works have contributed immensely to understanding and diagnosing racism in post-colonial societies.
The Foundation has over the years, unapologetically voiced its objection toward the deplorable and hateful treatment of the Palestinian people by the Zionist Israeli state.