SA ministers join in hunger strike

ANT KATZ

Topping the list of senior ANC officials who fasted was Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and his spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa.

The hunger strike in Israel was instigated by five-time convicted murderer and Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, on his 30^th day, ramped up his hunger strike by refusing water. The prisoners are demanding public telephones; longer visits; air conditioning; and better access to educational services, among other demands.

They are also demanding having their own kitchens and being able to cook for themselves, as well as ending solitary confinement. 

Barghouti – who refers to himself as the Palestinian Mandela – had been caught on film by Israeli authorities eating in his cell while on hunger strike, which he denied.

ANC senior spokesman Zizi Kodwa, who elected not to fast, told Jewish Report that the ANC members who took part did so to show their ongoing solidarity with the Palestinians.

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi was one of the ministers who took part. The fast allowed for the drinking of liquids (unlike religious Jewish and Muslim fasts). While not a BDS member, he told Jewish Report while rushing between presenting his budget to the ANC caucus and delivering it to Parliament on Tuesday, he had agreed to a BDS request to participate.

“In fact, I fasted for over 26 hours as I was busy working on my budget that I forgot it was over,” he said laughing. When asked if he knew exactly what the fast was about, he said it was in sympathy with the hunger strikers but he was not aware why they were refusing to eat.

Other ministers who the BDS claimed were participating were Ayanda Dlodlo (Communication and ANC NEC Member); Edna Molewa (Environmental Affairs and Head of ANC International Relations); Ebrahim Patel (Economic Development); Mmamoloko Kubayi (Energy); Naledi Pandor (Science and Technology); and Rob Davies (Trade & Industry).

Deputy Ministers also said to have taken part in the fast according to BDS, included Bongani Michael Mkongi (Police); Buti Manamela (Presidency); and Jeremy Cronin (Public Works).

BDS also listed ANC Top-Six member Jessie Duarte (Deputy Secretary-General); and presidential hopeful Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (former Minister and African Union Chairman). There were many other ANC officials on the list.

Zionist Federation National Chairman Ben Swartz said in a letter to the Jewish community, that “the SAZF encourages constructive debate and engagement on these issues” which could lead to “developing beneficial solutions for the painful conflict that affects both Israelis and Palestinians”.

Swartz emphasised that the Israeli Prison Services uphold international law with regard to: regular visits from the International Red Cross, family visitations, medical treatment, religious rights, access to education and meetings with attorneys and legal representation.

“There is a fundamental difference between the hunger strikes that took place in South Africa’s apartheid era to that of this hunger strike,” said Swartz. Under “the oppressive apartheid regime, hunger strikers were legitimate freedom fighters who had been imprisoned due to their political statements, beliefs and convictions”.