South Africa says Israel is fuelling xenophobic unrest in an attempt to destabilise the country.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi made the claims in an interview with the Sunday Times, escalating an already bitter diplomatic row between Pretoria and Tel Aviv. Kubayi suggested that Israel was exploiting South Africa’s xenophobia crisis to weaken Pretoria and pressure it over its genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
She said it would be “naive” to believe South Africa’s decision to take Israel before the ICJ would not trigger efforts to undermine the country’s international standing.
“Our presence and our taking Israel to the ICJ — if anyone underestimates that, [that person] is naive,” Kubayi told the Sunday Times.
“Israel fights. That court case is huge on their shoulders. And they will fight back in a manner that seeks to show South Africa is not a country with moral authority to advocate for human rights.”
Kubayi made the remarks after nationwide anti-immigration protests that targeted mainly African migrants. The government feared the demonstrations could spiral into violence similar to the deadly July 2021 unrest.
She revealed that President Cyril Ramaphosa activated an extraordinary security operation involving intelligence agencies, drone surveillance, live CCTV monitoring and law enforcement.
Although Kubayi did not publicly produce evidence linking Israel to the protests, she insisted South Africa was confronting forces determined to damage its international reputation.
“I can’t discuss that in public. Let me be generic,” she said.
“Their intention is to have that case off the roll at the ICJ. As long as South Africa is seen as leading that matter, those who are affected will want to undermine the perception that we are credible on human rights.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the claims as “shameful scapegoating” and “no accountability”.
Former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) national spokesperson and Pan-African activist Mbuyiseni Ndlozi defended Kubayi’s warning.
“Please take note of this dear South Africans,” Ndlozi wrote on X. “Unless you understand what South Africa means to the world… you will NEVER know genuine FREEDOM!”
He added: “An internationally discredited South Africa is a weak & docile nation.”
Kubayi said the government’s security operation prevented deaths and widespread destruction. However, she warned that the political and social tensions behind the protests remain unresolved.
The diplomatic row comes as relations between Pretoria, Washington and Tel Aviv continue to deteriorate. The United States has criticised South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel and recently granted refugee status to white Afrikaners who claimed racial persecution in South Africa. The hate-activists have been welcoming white immigrants and are not going into places within Cape Town and Johanessburg known to haude illegal immigrants who are white.
Malawi, one of Israel’s key partners in Africa, has paid a heavy human cost during South Africa’s recurring xenophobic violence. Thousands of Malawians have been displaced or forced to return home over the years, while others have lost businesses, livelihoods and family members. Several Malawians have been killed in the violence, while others have died on the long journey back to Malawi after fleeing the unrest.
