Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs must apologise or be dismissed for anti-Semitic statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Fatima Hajaig, to publicly apologise for a series of comments that she made in a speech in Lenasia, Johannesburg on 14 January, failing which, she must be dismissed from office.

The DA has studied the transcript of Ms Hajaig's address and we are shocked to note, amongst others, her remarks that "they (Jews) control (America), no matter which government comes into power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barrack Obama or George Bush. Their control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything".

These anti-Semitic comments are not only racist, they are an incitement to communal hatred and run completely counter to the spirit and intent of the Constitution and South Africa's culture of human rights. Ms Hajaig's allegations are nothing more than bargain-basement conspiracy mongering, which would be unacceptable coming from a senior member of any government anywhere in the democratic world - let alone in a country such as South Africa which has fought so long and hard to overcome a history of discrimination and racial intolerance.

It is incumbent upon Hajaig to immediately apologise to the people of South Africa in general, the Jewish community in particular, and to US President Barrack Obama. In this regard, it is telling that more than two weeks after she was requested to apologise by, amongst others, Zachie Achmat, Nathen Geffen, and Jonathan Berger, she has still not seen fit to do so (see here). This makes it clear that she feels absolutely no contrition, nor believes her comments to have been offensive.

If left unaddressed, this situation will create the impression that Ms Hajaig's comments reflect the view of the South African government. President Motlanthe therefore needs to deal with this issue with the forthright decisiveness which it so clearly merits.

The DA condemns any kind of hate speech as it runs completely counter to our vision of an open opportunity society for all, and is an affront to the constitutional values which we champion.

Statement issued by Tony Leon, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on foreign affairs, January 28 2009