Nomvula Mokonyane, the ANC’s deputy secretary-general, says the party is worried about Orlando Pirates playing a preseason friendly against an Israeli football team, but it is too late to put pressure on the team.
It is anticipated that Spain will host the game, which is set for July 13.
On Monday, Mokonyane gave a speech outside of the ANC’s elections workshop in Boksburg.
Although the administration has not taken a firm stand on cultural boycotts of the Middle Eastern nation, she said that the party was worried about Pirates playing against the Israeli team, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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“We have been in touch with Orlando Pirates and our comrades in Palestine.
“As the ANC, what we want is to register what we are concerned about what has been happening in Palestine.
“We note what has been a call from civil society calling Orlando Pirates not to play the match. We want to register an important discussion about a cultural boycott.”
Mokonyane added:
There is no cultural boycott against Israel, and we continue to trade with Israel, and we are concerned about the inconsistencies about not complying with the UN resolutions. We believe it is within the rights of Orlando Pirates to play because they are in a league with 30 other teams, including a team from Palestine. FIFA rules govern them, and a call at this moment might be comprised. She added she understood the club was against oppression and the match did not mean it had abandoned its stance against human rights violations.
The ANC is a close ally of Palestine and has increasingly called out Israel for “oppressive crimes” against the nation.
Despite this stance, the ruling party has played it safe, not pushed for sanctions or bans against Israel.
Mokonyane said the latest controversy surrounding the game was a reminder a cultural boycott might be necessary.
“This is a reminder that there must be discourse around a cultural boycott, including the grapes and vegetables we get from Israel. There must be a time when we become aggressive towards Israel,” she added.
In a statement on Monday, Orlando Pirates said it was bound by the rule of law, and there currently existed no cultural boycott by the government the club could use to avoid playing the match.
☠️ 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
🖥 Read the full Club Statement 👉🏿 https://t.co/reHriuKMcI
⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/iW8hAF36kq
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) July 10, 2023
“Orlando Pirates’ core functioning is governed by rules. It is to the rules that Orlando Pirates went with when confronted with calls to withdraw from playing Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“There is no cultural boycott or boycott of any form by either the South African government, FIFA or the host country that Orlando Pirates can base its refusal to play against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“Heeding a call from any other body would create a conflict within Orlando Pirates that would undermine the club’s values and history irreparably,” the statement added.
