As the furore over Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng continues, dividing public opinion in South Africa, the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) has condemned the “unwarranted attack” on Mogoeng, singling out particularly the ruling African National Congress (ANC). 

“The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) condemns the ANC and others who made an unwarranted attack on Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng for expressing his biblical connection to Israel. The Chief Justice's heartfelt sentiment exposed the boundaries of the ANC’s support for the constitutional right of freedom of religion, thought and opinion,” SAZF national chairperson Rowan Polovin. 

“This assault is not simply on the Chief Justice but on the rights of the many millions of South Africans, Christian or not, who believe in Israel and her right to exist peacefully alongside the Palestinians.” 

Polovan says the ANC pays lip-service to the notion of a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel. 

“Not surprising then, that it discards the key message of the chief justice, who said that South Africans “are denying ourselves a wonderful opportunity of being a game-changer in the Israeli-Palestinian situation" and that South Africa’s goodwill “is an asset we must use around the world to bring peace when there is no peace and to mediate effectively based on rich experience”.

Polovan said Mogoeng alongside millions of South Africans, is a committed Christian and enjoys an inalienable right of religious belief and freedom to speak it. 

“Even office bearers like himself [Mogoeng] have the right to express themselves freely and to be treated equally. The bullying response of the ruling party is a device employed by the antisemitic BDS movement [Boycott Divestment Sanctions - a pro-Palestinian group] when any public figure expresses support and understanding of Israel. The chief justice of South Africa, most of all, must never be silenced by these intimidatory exploits.” 

The SAZF called on the ANC to distance itself from the “intimidatory” conduct and to give meaning to promoting peace rather than hatred in the Middle East and South Africa. 

Last week, the ANC said it was concerned about sentiments attributed to Mogoeng expressing his apparent support for “apartheid Israel”. 

Mogoeng’s controversial remarks were made when the chief justice was recently on a lineup of The Jerusalem Post’s “exclusive webinar” which also featured chief rabbi Warren Goldstein and was moderated by The Jerusalem Post’s editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz. 

Among other remarks, Mogoeng, a staunch Christian said during The Jerusalem Post virtual conference: “The first verse I give is in Psalms 122 verse 6 which says: ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee'. 

"Also Genesis 12 verses 1 to 3 says to me as a Christian, if I curse Abraham and Israel the Almighty God will curse me too. So, I am under an obligation as a Christian to love Israel, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, which actually means the peace of Israel. I cannot, as a Christian, do anything other than love and pray for Israel because I know hatred for Israel by me and my nation can only attract unprecedented curses upon our nation”. 

"I think as a citizen of this country, we are denying ourselves a wonderful opportunity of being game-changers in the Israeli-Palestinian situation. We know what it means to be at loggerheads, to be a nation at war with itself,” Mogoeng said.

On Thursday, Mabe said: “The esteemed chief justice entered the arena of political commentary which may make him vulnerable should he have to adjudicate a human rights matter in the future. 

"He also openly supported the actions of the state of Israel, actions condemned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on numerous occasions and contemptuous behaviour towards the human rights of the people of Palestine.”

“It was rather unfortunate for the Chief Justice [Mogoeng] to state that: "South African government policy was binding upon himself and that he was not seeking to reject it" but then clearly and openly opposing it "as a citizen". 

The ANC has respect for the independence of the judiciary. South Africa is a secular state and officials of the state, which include our esteemed judiciary are bound by the constitution to respect this.”