SA teacher still being sidelined for Israel support

“I would like you not to ask Sudesh Mooloo to come and play on our premises. Currently, he cannot be allowed to play because Sudesh has expressed empathy for the state of Israel. There’s no compromise on this issue. We belong to the anti-Zionist movement.”

These were the words of a Muslim community leader in Pretoria who is in charge of the mosque where Pretoria teacher Sudesh Mooloo plays soccer socially. The statements were taken from a conversation with Mooloo’s teammate on 14 September.

The man repeatedly said he didn’t want Mooloo on the premises. “Please keep Sudesh out of this picture, because we don’t want the wrath of the community and the organisations to fall on our heads,” he said, pointing out that he didn’t want media attention. “If you decide to stand in solidarity with him, then you’re also not welcome. There will people monitoring this.” He later added, “We don’t believe in discrimination or apartheid.”

Discrimination against Mooloo began during the Israel/Gaza war of May 2021, when he wrote a WhatsApp status saying, “I’m not anti-Palestine. I’m anti-Hamas. I stand with Israel.” The next day, he was told by the principal of his workplace that his contract was terminated with immediate effect. Mooloo taught Afrikaans, social sciences, and creative arts at Laudium Secondary School in Pretoria for 25 years. He’s a Christian who says he wrote the statement in light of his religious beliefs. He still doesn’t regret it, even after being fired, receiving death threats, the victimisation of his family, and continued discrimination against him.

Regarding this latest incident, he says, “I play indoor soccer on a Sunday with friends. We’re all school buddies. We’ve been playing there for the past five years. I even played there at the time of my WhatsApp status. Suddenly, this man says I’m not welcome, even though he knows me well. I was shocked. I thought this had all been laid to rest.”

He says he was also banned from playing in another tournament, but his team stuck with him and pulled out in protest. Then, he and his family were meant to take part in a Heritage Day event on 24 September, but the organisers also asked him not to participate in that.

“We are from Marabastad [in Pretoria]. We then moved to Laudium. On 24 September, there will be a heritage celebration for Marabastad. My father was a pioneer of Marabastad and Laudium. He was known as a great footballer, and played for a great team in Marabastad called Sundowns FC. I and my family were to be featured in the programme of this Marabastad reunion.

“Last night, [on 15 September], they held a meeting with the Laudium councillor and the sponsors of the reunion. The man who is on the event committee and who asked me to be on the programme, sent me the following message: “Hi Sudesh, regret to inform you that an objection was launched by the Ldm [Laudium] councillor with you appearing at the event. His argument was that the donors wouldn’t support us if they see you appearing.”

The man said he and another person supported Mooloo, “but we were outnumbered. I’m so sorry. I’m so disappointed.”

“This is South Africa. I thought we had freedom of speech and religion,” Mooloo says. “Apparently, people are now trying to ban me from any sporting facilities in Laudium. I love football, and I work with juniors in development, but they want to stop me from playing any role.”

He says he’ll never go back to the school from which he was fired, “because my safety is still not guaranteed”.

Tzvi Brivik, a director at Malcolm Lyons & Brivik Inc, is representing Mooloo in his legal battle against the school that fired him. “In terms of the rules of the court, we’re finalising a document which records issues which are in dispute and those which are agreed. We’re also required to set out the relief which we’re claiming on Sudesh’s behalf,” he says.

“For example, it’s agreed between the parties that Sudesh informed the school principal that he wasn’t returning to school and that he felt threatened. It’s also agreed that on various community and school WhatsApp groups, messages were circulating that he had been dismissed. Some of the issues which Sudesh’s employer, the school, has placed into dispute are his religious and political views. The school is also disputing whether Sudesh received any threats to his person and the extent of the duty it had to ensure a safe working environment.

“These are disputes of fact, which a judge will determine on hearing the evidence at trial. Sudesh is claiming that he was discriminated against, amongst other grounds, on the basis of his beliefs, namely that he’s a devout Christian. Such a claim would entitle him to compensation of up to 24 times his monthly remuneration.

“Heritage Day recognises and celebrates the cultural diversity of our country,” Brivik says. “The exclusion of our client on the basis of his beliefs runs contrary to all we aspire to as a nation, and is fundamentally wrong. This is a continuation of the discrimination and alienation Sudesh continues to experience.”

Mooloo notes that the Palestinian Solidarity Movement’s headquarters are in Laudium, “so they will do everything in their power to stop anyone or anything going against that”. He says people have said they agree with his views, and even thanked him for taking a stand. “I would say about 80% of Christians in Laudium agree with me, but they’re too scared to say it as they don’t want to be attacked and marginalised. I also have Muslim friends who fully understand.”

He thanked the South African Jewish community for its continued support, especially the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), which has stood by him in the darkest times.

SAJBD Chairperson Professor Karen Milner says, “We condemn this campaign to silence South Africans who express views on Israel that don’t conform with the BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement] narrative. This is antithetical to the fundamental principles of our Constitution – free speech and association. Once again, the groups that are attempting to discriminate against and bully Sudesh Mooloo show themselves to be out of step with South African values.”

Benji Shulman, the director of public policy at the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF), says, “Continued BDS bullying of South Africans for peacefully expressing their support for the democratic state of Israel is unacceptable. South Africans are protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and should freely and without prejudice be able to express their love and support for Israel. Furthermore, it has become evident that the antisemitic, anti-Israel lobby group, BDS, is no longer only targeting Jewish people, but has extended its hatred toward anyone who expresses a different view to its own regarding the Holy Land.

“The SAZF condemns the continuing antisemitic behaviour by BDS, and stands behind South Africans like Sudesh Mooloo, and their right to their political and religious beliefs.”