Jewish community plays key role in building SA – COPE

MIRAH LANGER

“Look at what Helen Suzman did in the dark days of apartheid. When she was in parliament, she was a lone voice against many. But she was [speaking out] about the conditions of Nelson Mandela and the other political prisoners on Robben Island, and things changed on Robben Island because of her.”

In fact, Bloem said during a telephonic interview, COPE was a party that truly appreciated the Jewish community’s contribution to South Africa. “We know the role that some of the leading figures of the Jewish community have played towards our struggle for freedom. We will never forget the role that they have played and [what they did] to assist us financially and legally.”

As such, promised Bloem, “we [COPE] will always be there to protect [the South African Jewish community]”.

Asked what COPE needed to protect the community from, Bloem answered that there was a “negative attitude from some quarters” in South Africa. “The Jewish community mustn’t be discouraged in keeping what it stands for, because just a minority don’t value its contribution and our relationship. They [the South African Jewish community] must always think of the majority that value the relationship.”

Like the United Democratic Movement, Bloem felt one of COPE’s greatest strengths was its consistency. “The Congress of the People is consistent in what it stands for. We stand for a South Africa that is free of discrimination, and a South Africa that will prosper. We are going to protect the rights of everybody inside the country and outside the country that will come to South Africa.”

Asked about the downgrade of the South African embassy in Israel, Bloem said COPE had made it clear that it completely disagreed with the decision. “We believe in a two-state solution to the problems of the people of Israel. We have been straightforward and clear about this matter.

“If we were in government, we could have used the same methods used in South Africa to bring both sides together around one table to sort out their differences, like at Codesa [the Convention for a Democratic South Africa].”

Bloem said that the South African Jewish community continued to play a key role in building South Africa. Any “financial or economic help” it could offer would also be appreciated. He invited the community to engage further with his political party going forward.

Bloom said COPE expected to do much better in these elections than previously. In 2014, “it was a little bit negative, but now it is very positive”, he proclaimed.

• Dennis Bloem spoke to the S A Jewish Report on behalf of party leader Mosiuoa Lekota, who took ill this week.