Xenophobia: South African minister denied visa to enter Israel

Israel has done what other African countries have not been able to do since the Xenophobic attacks started in South Africa. The Jews know what and have experienced Xenophobia and how its still affecting them to date.

You know their people suffered it back in the late 1930s/ 1940s during the second world war where Hitler built concentration camps mainly for torturing Jews, so I guess they have zero tolerance for it . A minister from South Africa was denied visa to visit Israel for diplomatic work.


Aljazeera reports

The government of South Africa has expressed outrage after Israel's decision to deny a visa to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. Clayson Monyela, Deputy Director General of Department of International Relations and Cooperation, told Al Jazeera on Thursday the Israeli government needed to offer a reason for the snubbing. "We are taking it up through the proper channels. We need to receive a proper explanation for the denial of a visa to a sitting cabinet minister," Monyela said. The minister was scheduled to travel to the occupied Palestinian territories from April 25-29.

He was scheduled to secure further collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and institutions in Palestine. Nzimande's spokesperson told local media that the denial of the visa had caused a "serious diplomatic problem". Naeem Jeenah, Director of Afro-Middle East Centre, based in Johannesburg, described the snubbing as "surprising" considering the two countries' growing trade relations.

Jeenah said the Palestinian solidarity movement in South Africa "would be thrilled" with Israel's decision "because South Africa now has to respond to this matter". Arthur Lenk, the Israeli ambassador in Pretoria, told Al Jazeera that South African officials routinely visit the West Bank through Israel. Lenk would not be drawn into discussing why specifically Nzimande's visa application was denied, though he described the minister as being "very vocal on a range of issues connected to Israel, South Africa and my region". The ambassador said the decision to deny the visa was made in Israel.

 "The decision came from Jerusalem," Lenk said. Vocal critic of Israel But Jeenah said that anything the Israelis say on the matter "could really only make the situation worse". The Palestinian embassy in South Africa described the decision as "racist". "We take note by this aggressive action that Israel is trying to implement the same rule as in the previous apartheid regime of South Africa," the embassy said in a statement. The Palestinian lobby group Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS-South Africa) released a statement saying it's "more confident than ever that its time to expel the Israeli Ambassador from South Africa". "Israel cannot want to tell us who our friends should be, where we should travel and who we can speak with." BDS said.

Nzimande has been a vocal critic of Israel. His spokesperson said on Thursday the minister would call on all higher education institutions to cut ties with their counterparts in Israel. "We must just boycott Israel," Nkwanyana reportedly said. South Africa currently has full diplomatic relations with Israel and recognises Israel within the borders demarcated by the United Nations (UN) in 1948.

But its funny while South African government would be making such an outburst. I keep saying that tehy are in support of what tehir people are doing! If they were from day one when all these started they would have quelled it immediately and not sending in their army at teh 11th hour. Our government should use their own common sense and stop playing big brother and seal up all South african establishments here. And per venture if they will be reopened they must adhere strictly to conditions laid down by us. Check out the way DSTV and MTn are seriously ripping us.

 Or is our government saying that the few Nigerians who have suffered these losses back in South Africa do not matter? One American stranded outside the shores of America is like the entire country of America is stranded. We should begin to think in these light if we want to regain our lost glory.... Signing off these is not a forum for diplomacy but I seriously implore my Government to take the bull by the horn!

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