ANT KATZ

Clearly taking the trouble to ensure that his choice of words was appropriate for the occasion of Pesach, the Mayor’s letter to Arthur Lenk began and ended with the perfect greetings as have been used between Jews for millennia: “Chag Pesach Sameach”.

“Firstly, allow me to express my sadness at not being able to accept your invitation to your Passover ‘seder.’

“The value of freedom holds special significance in the history and collective identity of all South Africans, as is the case for the people of the Jewish nation and, indeed, many other nationalities across the globe,” said Mashaba.

RIGHT: Mayor Mashaba makes no bones about his true blue political affiliation

Using the analogy of the Exodus of the Hebrew people from their exile in Egypt to the situation South Africa finds itself in, the Mayor continued: “Given our recent history, as South Africans, we are all too aware that freedom is a necessary condition for people to pursue fulfilled and dignified lives for themselves and their loved ones.

“I truly believe that the value of freedom can only be understood and appreciated by those who have a sense of the past and have highly developed understanding of human nature which comes with that knowledge.

“Throughout the ages, each generation has had to face up to its own struggles and in that process, define what freedom means to them. This means that freedom is continually defined, defended, re-defined and defended anew by each generation.

“The celebration of the Passover is an opportunity to reflect on past struggles whilst imparting teachings which will give future generations the tools they need to navigate their own challenges and define freedom for themselves, hopefully, for the common benefit of all mankind.

“This said, I wish that your Pesach overflow with happiness. May you always be blessed with peace, prosperity and togetherness!”

Mayor Mashaba concluded his message with the same short greeting used by Jewish people globally: “Wishing you a Happy Passover!”

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Who is Herman Mashaba?

Herman Mashaba is a successful South African entrepreneur, politician and the executive mayor of Johannesburg.

He is the founder of the hair products company Black Like Me. Born on August 26, 1959 in Hammanskraal, the 57-year-old is married to Connie Mashaba. The couple have two children: Rhulani and Khensani Mashaba.

Mashaba’s alma mater is the University of Pretoria and he is a member of the Democratic Alliance and the author of Capitalist Crusader: Fighting Poverty Through Economic Growth