*by Luba Mayekiso
DEISI International recently hosted its 2nd Annual South Africa Night to Honour Israel (SANTHI) in Johannesburg on Sunday 22nd October 2017. Whilst DEISI shares a common focus with the growing number of Israel advocacy groups in South Africa, the organisation is creating a niche with its Night to Honour Israel event. It is heartening to see that DEISI has had the staying power to avoid the atrophy that many Christian Zionist organisations have succumbed to in our country due to a lack of clear focus.
SANTHI is in some way modelled on the successful Night to Honour Israel pioneered by United States based Christians United for Israel (CUFI). I had previously attended CUFI’s Night to Honour Israel in Washington DC during the summer of 2013 but my memory is rather foggy as I battled to stay awake from a debilitating cocktail of humidity, jet lag and exhaustion from my wife’s determined shopping routine that ranged from the pavements of Georgetown to Pentagon City Mall. Despite my physical condition, it left a clear impression of being a world-class event and thus a hard act for DEISI to emulate.
Testimony of the faith that CUFI has in DEISI is the fact that Pastor Dumisani Washington, the National Diversity Outreach Coordinator for CUFI, attended the inaugural SANTHI event in Johannesburg last year.
I had enjoyed the inaugural SANTHI event so I was rather curious how DEISI would sustain our interest and hopefully even raise the bar this year. Now, I must confess to two weaknesses; the first is a limited attention span and so trying to keep it together during long programmes is always a serious challenge for me. The second is a wondering mind that drifts away when I am subjected to a programme with what I consider too many musical items. In the African context, music is always a dominant feature of any programme but, alas, my coconut school days are often my undoing as they guarantee that I know very little vernacular choral music and thus my appreciation of such music is often severely tested but, with age, I have learned to be a good chameleon.
I must confess that I have nothing but admiration for the DEISI production in that SANTHI 2017 offered a superb event but with an unashamedly and distinctly African feel. We had gathered to express and celebrate our solidarity with the State of Israel and the South African Jewry with the overriding theme being one of a celebration as it was, after all, the year of Jerusalem’s jubilee! The excellent balance between songs, speeches and visuals ensured that even my coconut nerves were placated.
Although DEISI’s board has some wise grey heads it was clear that the youth played a central role in determining the pulse for the evening. It was upbeat, vibrant and fresh. Where else in the world would you find a choir, neatly dressed in their school uniform of African kids aged somewhere around seven or eight years old, opening an event by singing Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica (our South African national anthem) and Hatikvah (the Israeli national anthem) without music sheets in sight but from memory? I’ve seen many adults mime their way through parts of both anthems and this confirmed to me the degree of commitment in the preparation for this event.
I am glad to say that none of the gremlins of the summer of 2013 from Washington visited me on this occasion. DEISI must be credited for an engaging programme that reflected the diversity of our nation and continent as participants, dressed in their cultural attire, addressed the audience in various South African and other African languages as they declared their love and support for Israel.
No event to honour Israel can take place without the presence or input from either the ambassador or deputy ambassador of Israel in South Africa and so we were not disappointed. Similarly, all the usual suspects such as the South African Zionist Federation, South African Jewish Board of Deputies and South African Friends of Israel were in attendance in the colourful multicultural audience. We were even honoured to have a Judge President of the High Court, members of various royal families from the SADC region and Members of Parliament in attendance.
The evening ended with an inaugural awards ceremony to three recipients:
Raymond Mabilu – The Star of David Award in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding commitment and contribution to DEISI International and its efforts to Defend, Embrace, Invest(in) and Support Israel;
Luba Mayekiso – The Esther Award in recognition and appreciation of his bold and public stand for truth and justice in relation to the State of Israel; and
Marc Lubner – The Kenneth Meshoe Award in recognition and appreciation of the Jewish Community’s immense contribution to the development of South Africa.
Finally, I must congratulate **DEISI International, under the leadership of its president, Rev Kenneth Meshoe, his daughter Olga, the COO, and the board ably led by Elson Kgaka for their vision, commitment and passion in standing with Israel as we collectively ensure that we change the narrative about Israel in this southern most part of Africa.
* Luba Mayekiso – Co-founder: Africa for Israel Christian Coalition
** DEISI International was established to create platforms for all people to be educated and exposed to the truths regarding the Middle East conflict and the right of the State of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders. Specific focus is placed on raising young people and future leaders to be advocates for truth. DEISI also provides opportunities that demonstrate how being a friend of Israel has practical benefits for any people, community and nation.
