NIHSS & Centre for Mediation in Africa Post-doctorate Research Fellow, Faculty of Humanities University of Pretoria/Mellon Foundation Public Intellectual Project. Committed to ethical leadership and social justice, the cultivating of knowledge with a sense of the ethical and the pursuit of wisdom. Committed to environmental and animal welfare and justice. Cat lover. Address: Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria South Africa
Let’s get the context right, if we dare to be honest. Israel's policies are the policies of a rac... more Let’s get the context right, if we dare to be honest. Israel's policies are the policies of a racist, settler colonial, apartheid state and it is committing a plausible genocide in Gaza. “Israelis are wrong to think that genocide should look like the Holocaust.” Those who choose to deny the reality of the genocide in Gaza, as confirmed by a growing body of internationally recognised, ethical individuals, organisations and institutions, are the same individuals who denied that South Africa was a racist apartheid state and who claimed that the ANC and Mandela were terrorists, that black people were savages and inferior and needed to be civilised, and that South Africa was a land for a people without a land. The squatters came from the colonial motherlands, despite having a land of their own. They used brutal violence on the indigenous people, stole the land, claimed ownership, asserted dominance by claiming superiority, committed ethnic cleansing of the indigenous, labelled the indigenous as terrorists and violent savages, and then claimed that the land was empty and that they had “improved and modernised” it. Israelis argue that a God they do not believe in (Zionists are secularists/atheists) gave Palestine to them. It should be remembered that the Torah is neither a historical nor a legal document.
Israel’s assurance of steadfast support from the West, particularly the US, heightened after the ... more Israel’s assurance of steadfast support from the West, particularly the US, heightened after the US dismissed allegations of Israeli genocide on January 10, 2024. With the belief that European and American judges at the ICJ would align with US interests, Israel’s arrogance reached its zenith. Despite a supposed US assurance of a veto (US-controlled and decided outcome) at the ICJ, South Africa secured a victory, prompting Israel to resort to its next basket of lies. This time accusing UNRWA staffers of collaboration with Hamas.
By February 5, 2024, Israel had still not provided any evidence for the accusations. The Gangster Club, comprising the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria, and Romania, swiftly announced aid cuts to UNRWA following Israel’s accusations. This situation unveils a compelling historical parallel of old alliances. This alignment underscores continuity in international alliances influenced by historical legacies and political interests, albeit conflicting with established principles of international law. In John Dugard’s analysis, the ‘rules-based order’ operates outside of international law, serving the interests of the US and its allies in a momentary context. The disregard for the ICJ verdict and the defunding of UNRWA represents an unprecedented attack on institutions designed to uphold international law. This irony is palpable, considering that many of these institutions were initially established within the framework of the rules-based order. However, as the geopolitical landscape evolves, adherence to international law has transitioned from being a responsibility for others to becoming a challenge for those who initially shaped these rules.
outh Africa’s ethical position at The Hague can be viewed as a manifestation of historical karma.... more outh Africa’s ethical position at The Hague can be viewed as a manifestation of historical karma. Our legal team presented a case in the world’s highest court, situated in the Netherlands, a country that had previously colonised us. The essence of the case was on behalf of an oppressed population that had supported the black majority during the days of apartheid. Specifically, the case targeted Israel, a country that had collaborated with the apartheid regime.
After Israel’s triumph in the Six-Day War, Die Burger, the mouthpiece of the National Party government, asserted a shared struggle for existence between Israel and South Africa. According to Sasha Polakow-Suransky’s book, The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies commented in Jewish Affairs, “The destinies of the two countries are … so alike in a much more meaningful sense than any enemy propagandist could conceive.”
The parallels between those who supported apartheid in South Africa and those supporting apartheid in Israel persist. Colonial powers appear to subscribe to a “back your buddy club”. They believe that as long as they pretend that they are the forces of good and repeat the same, the lie will become a truth and everyone will consider them as a civilised moral authority to aspire to.
A young woman activist holds up a poster at a pro-Palestinian rally that reads, “Imagine being So... more A young woman activist holds up a poster at a pro-Palestinian rally that reads, “Imagine being South African and supporting an apartheid state”.
In 1999, Nelson Mandela, who was then president, visited Gaza and said, “Choose peace rather than confrontation, except in cases where we cannot move forward. Then, if the only alternative is violence, we will use violence.”
For South Africans, these are two stark realities that need critical examination. More so now when we are told that we must be “neutral”, or “objective”, telling the oppressed to adhere to non-violence while silent at the 75 years of violence from the oppressor. This subtle manipulation claims a moral equivalence between the oppressed and the oppressor.
Individuals, academics, artists, professionals and politicians are sanctioned, erased and discriminated against for speaking out about ethnic cleansing and genocide, while the actual perpetrators of the genocide and ethnic cleansing are given unlimited and unsanctioned coverage.
For young people, these contradictory behaviours are glaringly hypocritical. How does one advocate pacifism for the oppressed, when violence is allowed for the oppressor? It is argued that “violence begets violence”, but the root of violence is oppression.
The argument that Israel needs to kill civilians by the thousands to eradicate Hamas is unfounded... more The argument that Israel needs to kill civilians by the thousands to eradicate Hamas is unfounded. This premise rests on a flawed assumption – that the complete elimination of Hamas is the sole path to peace.
Peace comes through addressing the root causes of the violence, by ending abuse and correcting past wrongs. Israel is to blame for 7 October. Prominent Israelis and Jewish activists such as Assaf Harel, Gideon Levy and Judith Butler share this viewpoint.
In April of 1963, Martin Luther King wrote, “First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate … who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a ‘more convenient season’.”
Did you know that Palestinians are prohibited from collecting rainwater? Rainwater is the ‘proper... more Did you know that Palestinians are prohibited from collecting rainwater? Rainwater is the ‘property’ of Israel. Let me repeat. Palestinians are forbidden from collecting rainwater for domestic use or agricultural needs. This is according to a UN report published in 2011.
This is systemic violence on an occupied people. And it did not start on 7 October 2023. Water has been used as a weapon to subdue Palestinian resistance during many stages of their struggle. The people of Gaza have witnessed various instances where water is employed as a weapon of war.
Direct impact involves the deliberate use of water and attacks on water infrastructure as tools of warfare. Indirect impact refers to military operations that harm the environment, such as poisoning water sources or contaminating soil. Gaza stands as the most egregious illustration of water-related collective punishment to date. In addition to the deliberate targeting of the water supply during conflicts, aerial attacks often destroy electric generators essential for water purification. The ongoing siege presents a significant obstacle to the permanent repair of these critical infrastructure components, leaving little hope for improvement in the foreseeable future.
The Palestinian slaughter is unfolding in Gaza while the European Union, the United States and th... more The Palestinian slaughter is unfolding in Gaza while the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom are watching, not willing to condemn or stop it, and “calling it a humanitarian crisis, as if the weather caused it”, said Irish politician and European parliament member Clare Daly.
There is no mistaking what this is: genocide. It may be the first genocide in history to be live-streamed on social media.
We need to stop it. It is being marketed as Israel defending itself, even as the evidence tells us it is about real estate and ethnic cleansing. The Iraq war was similarly marketed as fighting terrorism, and bringing democracy, but we know it was all about oil and money. When it comes to genocide there is no grey area. You are either for or against genocide.
Every year in different parts of the world, a month or a day is dedicated to women. The rationale... more Every year in different parts of the world, a month or a day is dedicated to women. The rationale behind this is to celebrate the contributions by women and to keep up the fight for gender equality. In South Africa, we commemorate women for an entire Women's Month in August of each year. It invokes the memory of the courage and determination of more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest of the extension of pass laws to women during apartheid in South Africa. These pass laws severely limited the movements of people, and particularly of black South Africans, with the intention to segregate the population along racial lines. The protest in 1956 was a peaceful contestation by women who were peacemakers and mediators within an unjust system.
As the festive season takes place, it is likely that driving social issues will be placed on the ... more As the festive season takes place, it is likely that driving social issues will be placed on the back burner. Yet war and violence are an everyday occurrence in the lives of many vulnerable people. On Sunday, 16-year-old Jana Zakarneh was shot and killed by the occupying Israeli forces as she climbed to the roof of her home in Jenin to look for her cat. Jana’s death will not get the true coverage it deserves because of the bias prevalent in many media outlets that dehumanise Palestinian lives. These truths need to be told, over and over again, especially since the war and conflict experiences of women are different to those of men. In most instances, women experience the "worst" effects of war and violence - though highlighting this is not to minimise the experiences of men.
War has a gendered impact. The most significant is "rape as a weapon of war". Yet women are usually the first responders to conflict and the first to seek peace in polarised communities. They are strategic to any long-term peace-making, but often, like the Palestinian voice, remain glaringly absent from peace processes.
Alive within the hundreds of students protesting on the different university campuses across Sout... more Alive within the hundreds of students protesting on the different university campuses across South Africa, was the hope that Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande would finally be replaced during the Cabinet reshuffle. The youth is looking for a competent, more savvy, capable and visionary leader who will inspire confidence and prioritise education for the value that is embedded in it.
No such luck.
Unlike the politicians and their cabal who are destroying the future of this country and its people, the youth, who seek education, are driven by a passion to uplift themselves, their families and their communities.
In the many conversations that I have had, there is a strong spirit of ubuntu in these young minds. They have a burning desire to make positive contributions in their communities so that their people can come out of the poverty trap that is the result of South Africa's traumatic past and pitiful present.
Many citizens of the global south have noticed some obvious trends in the news in the past few we... more Many citizens of the global south have noticed some obvious trends in the news in the past few weeks. These highlight issues in the international system of states and local governance that link directly with a theme at the Mail & Guardian’s Conscious Leadership and Ethics summit 2023 that took place in Johannesburg last week. The focus of the summit was “Lighting the path to conscious leadership: Conscience over Compliance.”
Conscious leaders are guided by a strong moral compass, prioritising the well-being of all. They recognise that their actions have an effect and are committed to using their influence to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding. But the reality is that such conscious leaders are non-existent in our international system of states and in many aspects of local governance, both in the public and private sector. How is it that we collectively lack the ability to do what we know is right?
Of the trends present, top of the list is hypocrisy, closely followed by the ease at which lies are generated and spun as the truth coupled with a nonchalance to values such as ethics, accountability and transparency. Paul Polman, one of the speakers at the summit, captured the essence of conscience over compliance as “doing what is right over what is minimally required; the hard of right versus the ease of wrong”.
We, the many South African women, are Proudly Woman, but like the Proudly South African brand, th... more We, the many South African women, are Proudly Woman, but like the Proudly South African brand, this wonder that is us, is often obscured by negatives – gender-based violence, gender inequality, employment injustice, the list seems endless.
Despite the negatives and the obstacles, women deal with systemic violence daily and then go on to interact with greater care, compassion, vision and humanity when in positions of power or leadership.
From our research on the role of women in conflict resolution, mediation and peace building at the Centre for Mediation in Africa, and a project on women social partners in times of crisis, there is something fascinating about the mindset, heart and approach of these women.
Leaders who bring back humanity into their decisions and actions are the leaders we so desperatel... more Leaders who bring back humanity into their decisions and actions are the leaders we so desperately need. This is the bottom line.
From my research on women as social partners in leadership positions, I am finding that women embody these values.
Let us reflect on the quote, "We have not inherited the land from our fathers, but have borrowed it from our children." There is a duty implied here. A woman who looks out for her children is more adept and vigilant in securing her children's rights.
Part of this involves being consciously present and aware of what is happening in the now. It is knowing that what one is securing and sacrificing is not for immediate gratification. It is a long-term goal. Women are able to work for these outcomes because they are capable of putting another’s needs and rights over their own.
In South Africa and Africa, in communities, localities and hubs, women are steering the human compass, working to secure our futures.
In an Instagram post, Edward Snowden said: "Nearly every war that has started in the past 50 year... more In an Instagram post, Edward Snowden said: "Nearly every war that has started in the past 50 years has been the result of media lies."
Noam Chomsky has explained how liberals use language to control information by limiting acceptable opinions, creating an illusion of free thinking that reinforces the system's assumptions, and controls the scope of the debate.
This is what international media houses like CNN, BBC, ABC and MSNBC are doing while the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinians happens in real time. Max Blumenthal, editor of TheGrayzoneNews wrote on his X page:
“CNN went 2 hours today without showing any video of Gaza destruction, and did not include a single non-Jew in studio for 1.5 hours. The network made sure everyone in studio was a committed Zionist.”
Users of Instagram and Facebook say they have fallen victim to "shadow banning" and the shutting down of pro-Palestinian accounts on social media. Shadow banning is a method of discreetly blocking a user's content from specific online community areas, making the ban inconspicuous to the user. For instance, comments from shadow-banned users on a blog may be visible only to the sender but not to others.
This practice limits the visibility and impact of alternative voices that contest dominant narratives and false information. In South Africa, the strongest pro-Palestinian lobby group, Africa4Palestine’s Instagram account, has been shadow-banned.
If you believe the Ukrainians have a right to resist occupation and the invasion of their land, a... more If you believe the Ukrainians have a right to resist occupation and the invasion of their land, and that their fighters are freedom fighters, then you should believe that the Palestinians have the same right. You should believe that Palestinian fighters are resistance fighters and that this latest resistance is exactly that — resistance and not terrorism.
The World Cup in Qatar reveals that Muslims and Islam are often put on trial by the West. Quraysh... more The World Cup in Qatar reveals that Muslims and Islam are often put on trial by the West. Quraysha Ismail Sooliman reflects on two developments in South Africa and whether orchestrated effort to nurture Islamophobia in South Africa have been unsuccessful.
Nyamnjoh, Francis B, #RhodesMustFall: Nibbling at Resilient Colonialism in South Africa. Langaa R... more Nyamnjoh, Francis B, #RhodesMustFall: Nibbling at Resilient Colonialism in South Africa. Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group 2016, 298 pp. Nyamnjoh's #RhodesMustFall is a timely release that unapologetically incorporates through a critical discourse analysis, the nuances and debates buried in the mainstream analysis of the various Fallist Movements. Nyamnjoh follows pertinent narratives about the #RhodesMustFall protests and of the need to re-evaluate transformation beyond the obsession of symbols (pp 84-85). The protests are about "revolting against the terms of engagement dictated to them" (p 84) and about deep seated frustrations with the nature, extent and type of transformation that had been taking place (p157). Included in his analysis is the impact and consequence of police violence and the militarisation of South African campuses as a strategy against constructive engagement with the students. These responses are interpreted as a "mockin...
Let’s get the context right, if we dare to be honest. Israel's policies are the policies of a rac... more Let’s get the context right, if we dare to be honest. Israel's policies are the policies of a racist, settler colonial, apartheid state and it is committing a plausible genocide in Gaza. “Israelis are wrong to think that genocide should look like the Holocaust.” Those who choose to deny the reality of the genocide in Gaza, as confirmed by a growing body of internationally recognised, ethical individuals, organisations and institutions, are the same individuals who denied that South Africa was a racist apartheid state and who claimed that the ANC and Mandela were terrorists, that black people were savages and inferior and needed to be civilised, and that South Africa was a land for a people without a land. The squatters came from the colonial motherlands, despite having a land of their own. They used brutal violence on the indigenous people, stole the land, claimed ownership, asserted dominance by claiming superiority, committed ethnic cleansing of the indigenous, labelled the indigenous as terrorists and violent savages, and then claimed that the land was empty and that they had “improved and modernised” it. Israelis argue that a God they do not believe in (Zionists are secularists/atheists) gave Palestine to them. It should be remembered that the Torah is neither a historical nor a legal document.
Israel’s assurance of steadfast support from the West, particularly the US, heightened after the ... more Israel’s assurance of steadfast support from the West, particularly the US, heightened after the US dismissed allegations of Israeli genocide on January 10, 2024. With the belief that European and American judges at the ICJ would align with US interests, Israel’s arrogance reached its zenith. Despite a supposed US assurance of a veto (US-controlled and decided outcome) at the ICJ, South Africa secured a victory, prompting Israel to resort to its next basket of lies. This time accusing UNRWA staffers of collaboration with Hamas.
By February 5, 2024, Israel had still not provided any evidence for the accusations. The Gangster Club, comprising the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria, and Romania, swiftly announced aid cuts to UNRWA following Israel’s accusations. This situation unveils a compelling historical parallel of old alliances. This alignment underscores continuity in international alliances influenced by historical legacies and political interests, albeit conflicting with established principles of international law. In John Dugard’s analysis, the ‘rules-based order’ operates outside of international law, serving the interests of the US and its allies in a momentary context. The disregard for the ICJ verdict and the defunding of UNRWA represents an unprecedented attack on institutions designed to uphold international law. This irony is palpable, considering that many of these institutions were initially established within the framework of the rules-based order. However, as the geopolitical landscape evolves, adherence to international law has transitioned from being a responsibility for others to becoming a challenge for those who initially shaped these rules.
outh Africa’s ethical position at The Hague can be viewed as a manifestation of historical karma.... more outh Africa’s ethical position at The Hague can be viewed as a manifestation of historical karma. Our legal team presented a case in the world’s highest court, situated in the Netherlands, a country that had previously colonised us. The essence of the case was on behalf of an oppressed population that had supported the black majority during the days of apartheid. Specifically, the case targeted Israel, a country that had collaborated with the apartheid regime.
After Israel’s triumph in the Six-Day War, Die Burger, the mouthpiece of the National Party government, asserted a shared struggle for existence between Israel and South Africa. According to Sasha Polakow-Suransky’s book, The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies commented in Jewish Affairs, “The destinies of the two countries are … so alike in a much more meaningful sense than any enemy propagandist could conceive.”
The parallels between those who supported apartheid in South Africa and those supporting apartheid in Israel persist. Colonial powers appear to subscribe to a “back your buddy club”. They believe that as long as they pretend that they are the forces of good and repeat the same, the lie will become a truth and everyone will consider them as a civilised moral authority to aspire to.
A young woman activist holds up a poster at a pro-Palestinian rally that reads, “Imagine being So... more A young woman activist holds up a poster at a pro-Palestinian rally that reads, “Imagine being South African and supporting an apartheid state”.
In 1999, Nelson Mandela, who was then president, visited Gaza and said, “Choose peace rather than confrontation, except in cases where we cannot move forward. Then, if the only alternative is violence, we will use violence.”
For South Africans, these are two stark realities that need critical examination. More so now when we are told that we must be “neutral”, or “objective”, telling the oppressed to adhere to non-violence while silent at the 75 years of violence from the oppressor. This subtle manipulation claims a moral equivalence between the oppressed and the oppressor.
Individuals, academics, artists, professionals and politicians are sanctioned, erased and discriminated against for speaking out about ethnic cleansing and genocide, while the actual perpetrators of the genocide and ethnic cleansing are given unlimited and unsanctioned coverage.
For young people, these contradictory behaviours are glaringly hypocritical. How does one advocate pacifism for the oppressed, when violence is allowed for the oppressor? It is argued that “violence begets violence”, but the root of violence is oppression.
The argument that Israel needs to kill civilians by the thousands to eradicate Hamas is unfounded... more The argument that Israel needs to kill civilians by the thousands to eradicate Hamas is unfounded. This premise rests on a flawed assumption – that the complete elimination of Hamas is the sole path to peace.
Peace comes through addressing the root causes of the violence, by ending abuse and correcting past wrongs. Israel is to blame for 7 October. Prominent Israelis and Jewish activists such as Assaf Harel, Gideon Levy and Judith Butler share this viewpoint.
In April of 1963, Martin Luther King wrote, “First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate … who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a ‘more convenient season’.”
Did you know that Palestinians are prohibited from collecting rainwater? Rainwater is the ‘proper... more Did you know that Palestinians are prohibited from collecting rainwater? Rainwater is the ‘property’ of Israel. Let me repeat. Palestinians are forbidden from collecting rainwater for domestic use or agricultural needs. This is according to a UN report published in 2011.
This is systemic violence on an occupied people. And it did not start on 7 October 2023. Water has been used as a weapon to subdue Palestinian resistance during many stages of their struggle. The people of Gaza have witnessed various instances where water is employed as a weapon of war.
Direct impact involves the deliberate use of water and attacks on water infrastructure as tools of warfare. Indirect impact refers to military operations that harm the environment, such as poisoning water sources or contaminating soil. Gaza stands as the most egregious illustration of water-related collective punishment to date. In addition to the deliberate targeting of the water supply during conflicts, aerial attacks often destroy electric generators essential for water purification. The ongoing siege presents a significant obstacle to the permanent repair of these critical infrastructure components, leaving little hope for improvement in the foreseeable future.
The Palestinian slaughter is unfolding in Gaza while the European Union, the United States and th... more The Palestinian slaughter is unfolding in Gaza while the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom are watching, not willing to condemn or stop it, and “calling it a humanitarian crisis, as if the weather caused it”, said Irish politician and European parliament member Clare Daly.
There is no mistaking what this is: genocide. It may be the first genocide in history to be live-streamed on social media.
We need to stop it. It is being marketed as Israel defending itself, even as the evidence tells us it is about real estate and ethnic cleansing. The Iraq war was similarly marketed as fighting terrorism, and bringing democracy, but we know it was all about oil and money. When it comes to genocide there is no grey area. You are either for or against genocide.
Every year in different parts of the world, a month or a day is dedicated to women. The rationale... more Every year in different parts of the world, a month or a day is dedicated to women. The rationale behind this is to celebrate the contributions by women and to keep up the fight for gender equality. In South Africa, we commemorate women for an entire Women's Month in August of each year. It invokes the memory of the courage and determination of more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest of the extension of pass laws to women during apartheid in South Africa. These pass laws severely limited the movements of people, and particularly of black South Africans, with the intention to segregate the population along racial lines. The protest in 1956 was a peaceful contestation by women who were peacemakers and mediators within an unjust system.
As the festive season takes place, it is likely that driving social issues will be placed on the ... more As the festive season takes place, it is likely that driving social issues will be placed on the back burner. Yet war and violence are an everyday occurrence in the lives of many vulnerable people. On Sunday, 16-year-old Jana Zakarneh was shot and killed by the occupying Israeli forces as she climbed to the roof of her home in Jenin to look for her cat. Jana’s death will not get the true coverage it deserves because of the bias prevalent in many media outlets that dehumanise Palestinian lives. These truths need to be told, over and over again, especially since the war and conflict experiences of women are different to those of men. In most instances, women experience the "worst" effects of war and violence - though highlighting this is not to minimise the experiences of men.
War has a gendered impact. The most significant is "rape as a weapon of war". Yet women are usually the first responders to conflict and the first to seek peace in polarised communities. They are strategic to any long-term peace-making, but often, like the Palestinian voice, remain glaringly absent from peace processes.
Alive within the hundreds of students protesting on the different university campuses across Sout... more Alive within the hundreds of students protesting on the different university campuses across South Africa, was the hope that Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande would finally be replaced during the Cabinet reshuffle. The youth is looking for a competent, more savvy, capable and visionary leader who will inspire confidence and prioritise education for the value that is embedded in it.
No such luck.
Unlike the politicians and their cabal who are destroying the future of this country and its people, the youth, who seek education, are driven by a passion to uplift themselves, their families and their communities.
In the many conversations that I have had, there is a strong spirit of ubuntu in these young minds. They have a burning desire to make positive contributions in their communities so that their people can come out of the poverty trap that is the result of South Africa's traumatic past and pitiful present.
Many citizens of the global south have noticed some obvious trends in the news in the past few we... more Many citizens of the global south have noticed some obvious trends in the news in the past few weeks. These highlight issues in the international system of states and local governance that link directly with a theme at the Mail & Guardian’s Conscious Leadership and Ethics summit 2023 that took place in Johannesburg last week. The focus of the summit was “Lighting the path to conscious leadership: Conscience over Compliance.”
Conscious leaders are guided by a strong moral compass, prioritising the well-being of all. They recognise that their actions have an effect and are committed to using their influence to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding. But the reality is that such conscious leaders are non-existent in our international system of states and in many aspects of local governance, both in the public and private sector. How is it that we collectively lack the ability to do what we know is right?
Of the trends present, top of the list is hypocrisy, closely followed by the ease at which lies are generated and spun as the truth coupled with a nonchalance to values such as ethics, accountability and transparency. Paul Polman, one of the speakers at the summit, captured the essence of conscience over compliance as “doing what is right over what is minimally required; the hard of right versus the ease of wrong”.
We, the many South African women, are Proudly Woman, but like the Proudly South African brand, th... more We, the many South African women, are Proudly Woman, but like the Proudly South African brand, this wonder that is us, is often obscured by negatives – gender-based violence, gender inequality, employment injustice, the list seems endless.
Despite the negatives and the obstacles, women deal with systemic violence daily and then go on to interact with greater care, compassion, vision and humanity when in positions of power or leadership.
From our research on the role of women in conflict resolution, mediation and peace building at the Centre for Mediation in Africa, and a project on women social partners in times of crisis, there is something fascinating about the mindset, heart and approach of these women.
Leaders who bring back humanity into their decisions and actions are the leaders we so desperatel... more Leaders who bring back humanity into their decisions and actions are the leaders we so desperately need. This is the bottom line.
From my research on women as social partners in leadership positions, I am finding that women embody these values.
Let us reflect on the quote, "We have not inherited the land from our fathers, but have borrowed it from our children." There is a duty implied here. A woman who looks out for her children is more adept and vigilant in securing her children's rights.
Part of this involves being consciously present and aware of what is happening in the now. It is knowing that what one is securing and sacrificing is not for immediate gratification. It is a long-term goal. Women are able to work for these outcomes because they are capable of putting another’s needs and rights over their own.
In South Africa and Africa, in communities, localities and hubs, women are steering the human compass, working to secure our futures.
In an Instagram post, Edward Snowden said: "Nearly every war that has started in the past 50 year... more In an Instagram post, Edward Snowden said: "Nearly every war that has started in the past 50 years has been the result of media lies."
Noam Chomsky has explained how liberals use language to control information by limiting acceptable opinions, creating an illusion of free thinking that reinforces the system's assumptions, and controls the scope of the debate.
This is what international media houses like CNN, BBC, ABC and MSNBC are doing while the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinians happens in real time. Max Blumenthal, editor of TheGrayzoneNews wrote on his X page:
“CNN went 2 hours today without showing any video of Gaza destruction, and did not include a single non-Jew in studio for 1.5 hours. The network made sure everyone in studio was a committed Zionist.”
Users of Instagram and Facebook say they have fallen victim to "shadow banning" and the shutting down of pro-Palestinian accounts on social media. Shadow banning is a method of discreetly blocking a user's content from specific online community areas, making the ban inconspicuous to the user. For instance, comments from shadow-banned users on a blog may be visible only to the sender but not to others.
This practice limits the visibility and impact of alternative voices that contest dominant narratives and false information. In South Africa, the strongest pro-Palestinian lobby group, Africa4Palestine’s Instagram account, has been shadow-banned.
If you believe the Ukrainians have a right to resist occupation and the invasion of their land, a... more If you believe the Ukrainians have a right to resist occupation and the invasion of their land, and that their fighters are freedom fighters, then you should believe that the Palestinians have the same right. You should believe that Palestinian fighters are resistance fighters and that this latest resistance is exactly that — resistance and not terrorism.
The World Cup in Qatar reveals that Muslims and Islam are often put on trial by the West. Quraysh... more The World Cup in Qatar reveals that Muslims and Islam are often put on trial by the West. Quraysha Ismail Sooliman reflects on two developments in South Africa and whether orchestrated effort to nurture Islamophobia in South Africa have been unsuccessful.
Nyamnjoh, Francis B, #RhodesMustFall: Nibbling at Resilient Colonialism in South Africa. Langaa R... more Nyamnjoh, Francis B, #RhodesMustFall: Nibbling at Resilient Colonialism in South Africa. Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group 2016, 298 pp. Nyamnjoh's #RhodesMustFall is a timely release that unapologetically incorporates through a critical discourse analysis, the nuances and debates buried in the mainstream analysis of the various Fallist Movements. Nyamnjoh follows pertinent narratives about the #RhodesMustFall protests and of the need to re-evaluate transformation beyond the obsession of symbols (pp 84-85). The protests are about "revolting against the terms of engagement dictated to them" (p 84) and about deep seated frustrations with the nature, extent and type of transformation that had been taking place (p157). Included in his analysis is the impact and consequence of police violence and the militarisation of South African campuses as a strategy against constructive engagement with the students. These responses are interpreted as a "mockin...
Assuming Boycott hits right home. It pulls together the potent activism and voices of individuals... more Assuming Boycott hits right home. It pulls together the potent activism and voices of individuals and organisations determined to influence power struggles and confront injustice. Each chapter highlights the challenges and ethical dilemmas that arise when action is needed to confront power, yet the consequences of that confrontation can also affect the already oppressed. For those who wish to maintain the status quo, it is precisely these dilemmas that are preyed upon and in the South African struggle these arguments manifested significantly. It is important that the authors have exposed and deliberated these doubts because often these doubts are preyed upon to demotivate those who are not fully convinced of the power of boycott. Assuming Boycott thus offers a peek into the potential of each person to hold the powerful to account. It is a dynamic contribution of the tactics that can be used by artists and activists who exercise their own agency and exhibit their own conscience at a time of increasing disillusionment with the outcomes of non-violent civic protest.
Activism in its varying forms is a tool of our time. Often it may manifest as a political or cult... more Activism in its varying forms is a tool of our time. Often it may manifest as a political or cultural strategy working towards consolidating people power and holding institutions, leaders and organisations accountable and responsible. Authored by a range of activists from across the African continent, Women's Activism in Africa animates the struggle and achievements of African women who have shifted the agenda from looking at women simply as victims to shaping " global understandings of women's rights and feminism " (pg.1&2). In taking ownership of their activism, many of these women have reintroduced debates on ethics and ethical values and standards that society and people in their communities hold dear. This has been crucial to the development of women's activism in Africa because the constraints and existing suppressive systems that existed in the colonial period and which manifested in the initial decades after independence " tied " many of the women's organisations to " the patronage politics of the single-party state " (pg. 3). This changed as women came together in different forums, " redefining feminism in African terms " and organising themselves around a plurality of views (pg.5). This shift in thinking included " new ways of imagining women " (pg.6), challenging the hegemonic manoeuvres of Western women who were vying for control of agendas that had no relevance to the African women activists (pg.8) and rejecting the " perceived condescending and patronising attitudes of Western scholars " (pg.9).
In Islamic Civilization in Southern Africa. History, Contemporary State & Future Perspectives, 2024
Islamophobia, like racism, racial capitalism, settler colonialism, and Afrophobia are all constru... more Islamophobia, like racism, racial capitalism, settler colonialism, and Afrophobia are all constructed according to the tools of white-supremacist ideology and are all inherently violent and exploitative. South Africa’s transition from apartheid to a democratic dispensation carried over with it the memory and impact of the harms resulting from discrimination, racism, and dehumanisation. For the majority black population, confronting the Muslim identity is not an issue as the greatest perceived threat is still conceived of as coming from white people. Our troubled history and the apartheid experience have perhaps limited the extent of Islamophobia in South Africa. Where it manifests, it has largely been contained, reversed by the courts, or negated through the actions of the larger Muslim community (as was evident during the July 2021 KZN unrest) and identification with Muslim NGOs like Gift of the Givers. But there are exceptions. Where Islamophobic incidences have occurred or are occurring, it is necessary to analyse these and ask “Have South Africans forgotten their history, their oppressors, and the ideology that justified this oppression?”
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Papers by Quraysha Ismail Sooliman
By February 5, 2024, Israel had still not provided any evidence for the accusations. The Gangster Club, comprising the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria, and Romania, swiftly announced aid cuts to UNRWA following Israel’s accusations. This situation unveils a compelling historical parallel of old alliances. This alignment underscores continuity in international alliances influenced by historical legacies and political interests, albeit conflicting with established principles of international law. In John Dugard’s analysis, the ‘rules-based order’ operates outside of international law, serving the interests of the US and its allies in a momentary context. The disregard for the ICJ verdict and the defunding of UNRWA represents an unprecedented attack on institutions designed to uphold international law. This irony is palpable, considering that many of these institutions were initially established within the framework of the rules-based order. However, as the geopolitical landscape evolves, adherence to international law has transitioned from being a responsibility for others to becoming a challenge for those who initially shaped these rules.
After Israel’s triumph in the Six-Day War, Die Burger, the mouthpiece of the National Party government, asserted a shared struggle for existence between Israel and South Africa. According to Sasha Polakow-Suransky’s book, The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies commented in Jewish Affairs, “The destinies of the two countries are … so alike in a much more meaningful sense than any enemy propagandist could conceive.”
The parallels between those who supported apartheid in South Africa and those supporting apartheid in Israel persist. Colonial powers appear to subscribe to a “back your buddy club”. They believe that as long as they pretend that they are the forces of good and repeat the same, the lie will become a truth and everyone will consider them as a civilised moral authority to aspire to.
In 1999, Nelson Mandela, who was then president, visited Gaza and said, “Choose peace rather than confrontation, except in cases where we cannot move forward. Then, if the only alternative is violence, we will use violence.”
For South Africans, these are two stark realities that need critical examination. More so now when we are told that we must be “neutral”, or “objective”, telling the oppressed to adhere to non-violence while silent at the 75 years of violence from the oppressor. This subtle manipulation claims a moral equivalence between the oppressed and the oppressor.
Individuals, academics, artists, professionals and politicians are sanctioned, erased and discriminated against for speaking out about ethnic cleansing and genocide, while the actual perpetrators of the genocide and ethnic cleansing are given unlimited and unsanctioned coverage.
For young people, these contradictory behaviours are glaringly hypocritical. How does one advocate pacifism for the oppressed, when violence is allowed for the oppressor? It is argued that “violence begets violence”, but the root of violence is oppression.
Peace comes through addressing the root causes of the violence, by ending abuse and correcting past wrongs. Israel is to blame for 7 October. Prominent Israelis and Jewish activists such as Assaf Harel, Gideon Levy and Judith Butler share this viewpoint.
In April of 1963, Martin Luther King wrote, “First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate … who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a ‘more convenient season’.”
This is systemic violence on an occupied people. And it did not start on 7 October 2023. Water has been used as a weapon to subdue Palestinian resistance during many stages of their struggle. The people of Gaza have witnessed various instances where water is employed as a weapon of war.
Direct impact involves the deliberate use of water and attacks on water infrastructure as tools of warfare. Indirect impact refers to military operations that harm the environment, such as poisoning water sources or contaminating soil. Gaza stands as the most egregious illustration of water-related collective punishment to date. In addition to the deliberate targeting of the water supply during conflicts, aerial attacks often destroy electric generators essential for water purification. The ongoing siege presents a significant obstacle to the permanent repair of these critical infrastructure components, leaving little hope for improvement in the foreseeable future.
There is no mistaking what this is: genocide. It may be the first genocide in history to be live-streamed on social media.
We need to stop it. It is being marketed as Israel defending itself, even as the evidence tells us it is about real estate and ethnic cleansing. The Iraq war was similarly marketed as fighting terrorism, and bringing democracy, but we know it was all about oil and money. When it comes to genocide there is no grey area. You are either for or against genocide.
War has a gendered impact. The most significant is "rape as a weapon of war". Yet women are usually the first responders to conflict and the first to seek peace in polarised communities. They are strategic to any long-term peace-making, but often, like the Palestinian voice, remain glaringly absent from peace processes.
No such luck.
Unlike the politicians and their cabal who are destroying the future of this country and its people, the youth, who seek education, are driven by a passion to uplift themselves, their families and their communities.
In the many conversations that I have had, there is a strong spirit of ubuntu in these young minds. They have a burning desire to make positive contributions in their communities so that their people can come out of the poverty trap that is the result of South Africa's traumatic past and pitiful present.
Conscious leaders are guided by a strong moral compass, prioritising the well-being of all. They recognise that their actions have an effect and are committed to using their influence to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding. But the reality is that such conscious leaders are non-existent in our international system of states and in many aspects of local governance, both in the public and private sector. How is it that we collectively lack the ability to do what we know is right?
Of the trends present, top of the list is hypocrisy, closely followed by the ease at which lies are generated and spun as the truth coupled with a nonchalance to values such as ethics, accountability and transparency. Paul Polman, one of the speakers at the summit, captured the essence of conscience over compliance as “doing what is right over what is minimally required; the hard of right versus the ease of wrong”.
Despite the negatives and the obstacles, women deal with systemic violence daily and then go on to interact with greater care, compassion, vision and humanity when in positions of power or leadership.
From our research on the role of women in conflict resolution, mediation and peace building at the Centre for Mediation in Africa, and a project on women social partners in times of crisis, there is something fascinating about the mindset, heart and approach of these women.
From my research on women as social partners in leadership positions, I am finding that women embody these values.
Let us reflect on the quote, "We have not inherited the land from our fathers, but have borrowed it from our children." There is a duty implied here. A woman who looks out for her children is more adept and vigilant in securing her children's rights.
Part of this involves being consciously present and aware of what is happening in the now. It is knowing that what one is securing and sacrificing is not for immediate gratification. It is a long-term goal. Women are able to work for these outcomes because they are capable of putting another’s needs and rights over their own.
In South Africa and Africa, in communities, localities and hubs, women are steering the human compass, working to secure our futures.
Noam Chomsky has explained how liberals use language to control information by limiting acceptable opinions, creating an illusion of free thinking that reinforces the system's assumptions, and controls the scope of the debate.
This is what international media houses like CNN, BBC, ABC and MSNBC are doing while the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinians happens in real time. Max Blumenthal, editor of TheGrayzoneNews wrote on his X page:
“CNN went 2 hours today without showing any video of Gaza destruction, and did not include a single non-Jew in studio for 1.5 hours. The network made sure everyone in studio was a committed Zionist.”
Users of Instagram and Facebook say they have fallen victim to "shadow banning" and the shutting down of pro-Palestinian accounts on social media. Shadow banning is a method of discreetly blocking a user's content from specific online community areas, making the ban inconspicuous to the user. For instance, comments from shadow-banned users on a blog may be visible only to the sender but not to others.
This practice limits the visibility and impact of alternative voices that contest dominant narratives and false information. In South Africa, the strongest pro-Palestinian lobby group, Africa4Palestine’s Instagram account, has been shadow-banned.
By February 5, 2024, Israel had still not provided any evidence for the accusations. The Gangster Club, comprising the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria, and Romania, swiftly announced aid cuts to UNRWA following Israel’s accusations. This situation unveils a compelling historical parallel of old alliances. This alignment underscores continuity in international alliances influenced by historical legacies and political interests, albeit conflicting with established principles of international law. In John Dugard’s analysis, the ‘rules-based order’ operates outside of international law, serving the interests of the US and its allies in a momentary context. The disregard for the ICJ verdict and the defunding of UNRWA represents an unprecedented attack on institutions designed to uphold international law. This irony is palpable, considering that many of these institutions were initially established within the framework of the rules-based order. However, as the geopolitical landscape evolves, adherence to international law has transitioned from being a responsibility for others to becoming a challenge for those who initially shaped these rules.
After Israel’s triumph in the Six-Day War, Die Burger, the mouthpiece of the National Party government, asserted a shared struggle for existence between Israel and South Africa. According to Sasha Polakow-Suransky’s book, The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies commented in Jewish Affairs, “The destinies of the two countries are … so alike in a much more meaningful sense than any enemy propagandist could conceive.”
The parallels between those who supported apartheid in South Africa and those supporting apartheid in Israel persist. Colonial powers appear to subscribe to a “back your buddy club”. They believe that as long as they pretend that they are the forces of good and repeat the same, the lie will become a truth and everyone will consider them as a civilised moral authority to aspire to.
In 1999, Nelson Mandela, who was then president, visited Gaza and said, “Choose peace rather than confrontation, except in cases where we cannot move forward. Then, if the only alternative is violence, we will use violence.”
For South Africans, these are two stark realities that need critical examination. More so now when we are told that we must be “neutral”, or “objective”, telling the oppressed to adhere to non-violence while silent at the 75 years of violence from the oppressor. This subtle manipulation claims a moral equivalence between the oppressed and the oppressor.
Individuals, academics, artists, professionals and politicians are sanctioned, erased and discriminated against for speaking out about ethnic cleansing and genocide, while the actual perpetrators of the genocide and ethnic cleansing are given unlimited and unsanctioned coverage.
For young people, these contradictory behaviours are glaringly hypocritical. How does one advocate pacifism for the oppressed, when violence is allowed for the oppressor? It is argued that “violence begets violence”, but the root of violence is oppression.
Peace comes through addressing the root causes of the violence, by ending abuse and correcting past wrongs. Israel is to blame for 7 October. Prominent Israelis and Jewish activists such as Assaf Harel, Gideon Levy and Judith Butler share this viewpoint.
In April of 1963, Martin Luther King wrote, “First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate … who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a ‘more convenient season’.”
This is systemic violence on an occupied people. And it did not start on 7 October 2023. Water has been used as a weapon to subdue Palestinian resistance during many stages of their struggle. The people of Gaza have witnessed various instances where water is employed as a weapon of war.
Direct impact involves the deliberate use of water and attacks on water infrastructure as tools of warfare. Indirect impact refers to military operations that harm the environment, such as poisoning water sources or contaminating soil. Gaza stands as the most egregious illustration of water-related collective punishment to date. In addition to the deliberate targeting of the water supply during conflicts, aerial attacks often destroy electric generators essential for water purification. The ongoing siege presents a significant obstacle to the permanent repair of these critical infrastructure components, leaving little hope for improvement in the foreseeable future.
There is no mistaking what this is: genocide. It may be the first genocide in history to be live-streamed on social media.
We need to stop it. It is being marketed as Israel defending itself, even as the evidence tells us it is about real estate and ethnic cleansing. The Iraq war was similarly marketed as fighting terrorism, and bringing democracy, but we know it was all about oil and money. When it comes to genocide there is no grey area. You are either for or against genocide.
War has a gendered impact. The most significant is "rape as a weapon of war". Yet women are usually the first responders to conflict and the first to seek peace in polarised communities. They are strategic to any long-term peace-making, but often, like the Palestinian voice, remain glaringly absent from peace processes.
No such luck.
Unlike the politicians and their cabal who are destroying the future of this country and its people, the youth, who seek education, are driven by a passion to uplift themselves, their families and their communities.
In the many conversations that I have had, there is a strong spirit of ubuntu in these young minds. They have a burning desire to make positive contributions in their communities so that their people can come out of the poverty trap that is the result of South Africa's traumatic past and pitiful present.
Conscious leaders are guided by a strong moral compass, prioritising the well-being of all. They recognise that their actions have an effect and are committed to using their influence to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding. But the reality is that such conscious leaders are non-existent in our international system of states and in many aspects of local governance, both in the public and private sector. How is it that we collectively lack the ability to do what we know is right?
Of the trends present, top of the list is hypocrisy, closely followed by the ease at which lies are generated and spun as the truth coupled with a nonchalance to values such as ethics, accountability and transparency. Paul Polman, one of the speakers at the summit, captured the essence of conscience over compliance as “doing what is right over what is minimally required; the hard of right versus the ease of wrong”.
Despite the negatives and the obstacles, women deal with systemic violence daily and then go on to interact with greater care, compassion, vision and humanity when in positions of power or leadership.
From our research on the role of women in conflict resolution, mediation and peace building at the Centre for Mediation in Africa, and a project on women social partners in times of crisis, there is something fascinating about the mindset, heart and approach of these women.
From my research on women as social partners in leadership positions, I am finding that women embody these values.
Let us reflect on the quote, "We have not inherited the land from our fathers, but have borrowed it from our children." There is a duty implied here. A woman who looks out for her children is more adept and vigilant in securing her children's rights.
Part of this involves being consciously present and aware of what is happening in the now. It is knowing that what one is securing and sacrificing is not for immediate gratification. It is a long-term goal. Women are able to work for these outcomes because they are capable of putting another’s needs and rights over their own.
In South Africa and Africa, in communities, localities and hubs, women are steering the human compass, working to secure our futures.
Noam Chomsky has explained how liberals use language to control information by limiting acceptable opinions, creating an illusion of free thinking that reinforces the system's assumptions, and controls the scope of the debate.
This is what international media houses like CNN, BBC, ABC and MSNBC are doing while the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinians happens in real time. Max Blumenthal, editor of TheGrayzoneNews wrote on his X page:
“CNN went 2 hours today without showing any video of Gaza destruction, and did not include a single non-Jew in studio for 1.5 hours. The network made sure everyone in studio was a committed Zionist.”
Users of Instagram and Facebook say they have fallen victim to "shadow banning" and the shutting down of pro-Palestinian accounts on social media. Shadow banning is a method of discreetly blocking a user's content from specific online community areas, making the ban inconspicuous to the user. For instance, comments from shadow-banned users on a blog may be visible only to the sender but not to others.
This practice limits the visibility and impact of alternative voices that contest dominant narratives and false information. In South Africa, the strongest pro-Palestinian lobby group, Africa4Palestine’s Instagram account, has been shadow-banned.