Lamola commits to intensifying Palestinian fight

International Relations & Co-Operation Minister Ronald Lamola has committed to redoubling SA’s efforts to fight injustice in Palestine, reports TimesLIVE. The newly appointed Minister, who championed SA’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), said SA would continue to act within global institutions to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza and ensure the fair application of international law for all. The Minister was speaking at a symposium on SA’s national interests and global advancements, an event organised in partnership with the SA Institute of International Affairs. His comments come as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet is expected to meet to iron out its policy direction for the seventh administration this weekend. The ANC’s biggest partner in government, the Democatic Alliance (DA), was strongly opposed to Pretoria’s decision to take the Israeli Government to the ICJ for crimes against humanity. The SA Government's choice of non-alignment at the UN in the Russian war against Ukraine was also highly criticised by the DA, which called for the country to take a stand against the Kremlin. The two parties are also in disagreement about SA’s relationship with its Brics Plus partners.

Human rights NGO Citizens for Integrity has challenged Cricket SA (CSA) over its decision to strip 18-year-old David Teeger of his captaincy at the U19 Cricket World Cup, reports The Citizen. CSA initially named Teeger as captain but removed him ahead of the U-19 Cricket World Cup after his comments on the conflict in Gaza. In papers filed at the Gauteng High Court recently, Citizens for Integrity allege that CSA’s ‘security concerns’ after Teeger’s comments were unlawful, unconstitutional and irrational. It said CSA failed to consult with its security advisers before making a decision. Witz claims that CSA has ‘failed to explain why a security threat was posed only if Teeger remained captain, but not if he remained a team member’. ‘Additionally, CSA did not outline any measures to protect Teeger and the team if such a threat truly existed. As the hosts and organisers of the tournament, CSA had an obligation to ensure the safety of their players, yet they failed to act appropriately.’ Teeger hit the headlines late last year after receiving the ‘Rising Star’ award at the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards in Johannesburg. He told the SA Jewish Report the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel. A CSA inquiry, led by Advocate Wim Trengove SC, cleared Teeger of wrongdoing in December. However, several rights organisations and cricket clubs condemned Teeger’s comments as ‘insensitive, unacceptable and in contradiction of government's official position about the state of Israel’.