The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) notes with utter disgust and condemnation the recent statement by the Democratic Alliance (DA) calling on the South African government to take Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This call, while ostensibly concerned with international law, exposes a breathtaking level of hypocrisy and selective moral outrage that has become the hallmark of the DA’s foreign policy pronouncements.
Where was this fervent commitment to international justice when South Africa, driven by a genuine and unwavering dedication to the rule of law, took Israel to the ICJ for its proven acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza? The DA opposed that landmark, courageous, and morally necessary action. They stood on the wrong side of history, siding with an apartheid state accused of the most grievous crime against humanity.
Now, the DA suddenly rediscovers its legalistic zeal, but only when it aligns with the geopolitical interests of its Western allies. This is not principle; it is the height of political opportunism and ideological servitude.
Our position is clear and consistent:
- We Condemn All Acts of Violence Against Civilians, regardless of the perpetrator. The loss of innocent life in any conflict is a tragedy.
- We Demand Consistent Application of International Law. The rules-based international order cannot be a tool wielded only against nations out of favour with the United States and its allies. It must be applied impartially. The DA’s approach makes a mockery of this principle.
- We Reject Selective Humanity. The DA’s stance reveals a disturbing hierarchy of human life: where Palestinian lives killed by the thousands over 35,000, including 15,000 children do not merit the same urgent legal response they now demand for others.
This is racism and a betrayal of our shared humanity. - We Stand with South Africa’s Principled Foreign Policy.
SAFTU applauds our government’s leadership in holding Israel accountable at the ICJ, a historic act that resonated with the oppressed and justice seeking people globally. Our foreign policy must continue to be rooted in anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, and the unwavering support for the right to self-determination, as exemplified by our solidarity with Palestine.
The DA’s statement is not about justice for Iran; it is a cynical attempt to score political points and distract from South Africa’s globally respected moral stand on Palestine. It is an attempt to align South Africa with a U.S.-led agenda of isolating its adversaries while giving carte blanche to its allies.
SAFTU will not be fooled by this charade. We call on the South African government and all progressive forces to:
· Ignore the DA’s hypocritical demand and continue to pursue a foreign policy based on consistent principle, not the whims of imperial powers.
· Intensify support for the Palestinian struggle and ensure full compliance with the ICJ’s provisional orders against Israel.
· Apply international law uniformly, advocating for justice wherever it is required, based on evidence and universal principles, not geopolitical convenience.
Our solidarity is with the oppressed, not the oppressor. Our commitment is to universal justice, not selective condemnation.
Issued on behalf of the SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For media inquiries, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku
newtonm@saftu.org.za
0661682157
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
