Sandwiched timeously between the festivity of Passover – where Jews celebrate their flight to freedom from African bondage, to Israel’s Independence Day, where Jews rejoice in their return to sovereignty in their ancestral homeland of Israel, South Africans on the 27th April, too celebrate liberation – Freedom Day.
Toasting Tomorrow. Hand in hand, Ambassador Sisa Ngombane (left) and Israel’s Deputy Director General (Africa) of the Foreign Ministry Yoram Elfron, following inspiring speeches of future cooperation.
In Israel, this momentous milestone is celebrated in the lush green garden at the residence of the South African Ambassador and his wife, Sisa and Thathanyana Ngombane in Ramat Gan, outside Tel Aviv.
As always, the setting was exquisite, the cuisine sumptuous with an ‘Out of Africa’ atmosphere with giant posters of South Africa’s natural beauty and sizable representations of the diplomatic corps from many African countries.
The South African wines flowed like the great Vaal and the mounds of sliced biltong were rapidly disappearing with this writer a major culprit – they were both just so good! Also “so good” too were the vibes as evident in the speeches!
The relationship between the two countries have in recent years been rocky – a rollercoaster of ups and downs – more downs with South Africa leading the pack at international forums in supporting the most horrendous resolutions against Israel. This again occurred on Israel’s Day of Independence on the 2nd May, when it voted in support of a UNESCO resolution calling to reject Israeli sovereignty over ALL Jerusalem. There was no inkling of this impending outrageous position at the 2017 Freedom Day celebration a few days earlier when both Ambassador Ngombane and Israel’s Deputy Director General (Africa) of the Foreign Ministry Yoram Elfron, were upbeat in articulating a new roadmap ahead advocating partnership and cooperation to the mutual benefit of both countries.
Warm Embrace. SA Ambassador Sisa Ngombane (right) with the internationally renowned Jewish leader, thinker and activist and former Minister of Social and Diaspora Affairs Rabbi Michael Melchior.
Times Are A-Changin
In his final year as ambassador to Israel, “This will be the last year I address you all on Freedom Day”, Ngombane began by focusing on South Africa’s proud Constitution. “While we celebrate our 23rd Freedom Day, we also this year rejoice in the 21st anniversary of our constitution, a document that is acknowledged to be one the most progressive in the world.” In achieving this ‘progressive’ high-bar, the Ambassador spoke about the legacy of Oliver Tambo “the ANC president who for more than thirty years championed the cause of freedom while in exile. The freedom that we enjoy today, was not achieved lightly, and Oliver Tambo was central to achieving this freedom.” However, following recent panic cabinet reshuffles, and economy uncertainty – a resolute Ngombane looked at his large audience standing before him in his garden and asked: “Can we do better?”
Instead of following up his own “fair question” with an easy Obamaesque “Yes We Can”, the Ambassador specified:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the ANC is getting ready to elect a new leadership out of which you will see a new and younger generation of leaders contesting the next General Election in 2019.”
The message was – Change is coming.
Ngombane praised the “vigorous opposition” as “contributing to the spirit of democracy” and in particular, drawing constant attention “to the scourge of corruption.” It’s not often that diplomats praise the contributions of their government’s opposition – Kudos to Ngonbane – he did!
The Diplomat and the Judge. Ambassador Sisa Ngombane (left) and retired judge of the Sourth African High Court, Henry Shakekenovsky.
Walking Among Giants
The Ambassador spoke about his recent visit with his wife to London, where they visited Parliament Square “in search of Mandela.” Home to eleven imposing statues of British, Commonwealth, and foreign statesmen, beginning with Winston Churchill, “I saw former SA Prime Minister Jan Smuts, Mahatma Gandhi, who left a lasting legacy in South Africa before returning to India to lead his country to independence, and Nelson Mandela.” What struck him most was that out of the eleven statues in the centre of London, “three were directly associated with South Africa. It is a honour we do not take lightly.”
What else Ambassador Ngombane did not take lightly was the difficulty of the road ahead for South Africa to fulfill its destiny. He quoted from a speech Oliver Tambo made in 1977 in Angola, many years before South Africa’s liberation:
“Comrades, you may think it very difficult to wage a liberation struggle. Wait until you are in power. I might be dead by then but at that stage, you will realise that it is more difficult to keep power that to wage a liberation war. Your supporters will be expecting you to provide services, and satisfy demands. In the process, be prepared to learn from other people’s revolutions; learn from your enemy also; the enemy is also not necessarily doing everything wrong; take what he is doing right and use it for your advantage. At the same time, avoid repeating the enemy’s mistakes.” This was Oliver Tambo speaking almost 40 years ago; unfortunately, he did not live to see a free South Africa.” Most significant to this writer was not so much what Tambo said nearly 40 years ago, but that Ambassador Ngombane chose to quote it in April 2017 on South Africa’s Freedom Day!
Toasting SA-Israel Ties. Rabbi Michael Melchior, Adv. Hertzel Katz, Ambassador Sisa Ngombane and retired SA judge, Henry Shakenovsky.
Listening to the celebratory speeches are members of diplomatic missions and Southern African community in Israel.
Hand in Hand
On the question of Israel, the Ambassador expressed that “we work with Israel, and Deputy Director Elfron is here to strengthen our relations.” While applauding “the significant progress in many areas of mutual interest,” Ngombane lamented one outstanding issue – the diplomatic Holy Grail – of “the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” that has lacked progress. Without apportioning blame to any party – as was frequently the case in the past – the Ambassador stressed that “we (South Africa) need to stay engaged in a process that brings peace and prosperity to this region.” In reply, Deputy Director Efron expressed that “Today, with the principles of equality and justice for all deeply etched on your national flag, you and the people of South Africa have much to celebrate.”
Noting how the Jewish community was “an integral part of South African society and how it has contributed to that country’s academic, economic and democratic process,” Deputy Director Efron went on to say that “Israel holds its relations with the nations of Africa as a national priority.” He emhasised that “the phrase “Israel is returning to Africa; Africa is returning to Israel” is a key tenant and guideline for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government as a whole today. I am convinced, your Excellency, that we will join hands together, promoting practical, concrete achievements with these expressions of intent.” He spoke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s historic visit to Africa in July 2016, “and he intends to make two additional visits later this year. One is scheduled for June, for the EKO (Entrepreneurial & Leadership) Summit for Western African Countries in Liberia; the second in October, which will be a special Africa-Israel summit to be attended by heads of state from many African nations. Here we will strive to consolidate cooperation in areas such as sustainable development, counter terrorism, water management, agriculture, cutting edge medical know-how and services.”
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Maritz, retired South African Judge, Henry Shakenovsky, Adv. Hertzel Katz and Paula Lang, First Secretary, SA Embassy, Israel.
The Road Ahead
Warmly reaching out to Ambassador Mgombane, Deputy Director Efron went on to express that “I am sure you will agree with me that the enhancement in relations between Africa and Israel – including its multilateral institutions – serves the interests of the continent as a whole. South Africa and Israel maintain robust cooperation in a number of areas. South Africa is Israel’s largest African partner, more than 40% of its overall trade with the entire continent. We also cooperate in different areas such as progressive methods of agriculture, clean energy, education, water technology, plus other areas of research and development. However, I have no doubt there still remains the great potential for further cooperation – also in the political field.” “Mr. Ambassador” concluded Deputy Director Efron, “I ask you to please convey to the government and the people of South Africa the best wishes from the government and the people of Israel, and may South Africa enjoy peace, prosperity, stability and security.” Stepping together hand-in-hand away from the podium to join their friends and guests in the garden, the two smiling inspiring representatives of their respective governments, send a strong positive message for the future.
There was good reason to swell down more good South African wine and besides the biltong, both speakers left everyone, much ‘to chew on’!
Invitation Poster
