A group of demonstrators, reportedly under the impression they were being transported to a religious event, instead found themselves at a pro-Israel picket in Houghton, Johannesburg, last Friday.
The demonstration was staged outside the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) headquarters. It was organised by the South African Friends of Israel (SAFI) in response to the recent appointment of former International Relations Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, as Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University.
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‘We were misinformed’
The atmosphere shifted when several individuals who had been bused to the site realised the nature of the event. Instead of joining the demonstration, they voiced their dissent.
“We were misinformed,” stated one of the protesters. “We came here because we thought it was a church gathering, but we are here now.”
Despite being surrounded by South African and Israeli flags, the group openly rejected Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, now widely recognised as a genocide against Palestinians.
“We are standing firm in our beliefs,” the unnamed protester declared. “We are pro-Palestine. We do not support Benjamin Netanyahu. We do not support the genocide that is happening. We want Palestine to be free and that is what we stand for.”
While some attendees carried placards reading “Defend Madiba’s legacy,” the focus remained on Dr Pandor. During her tenure as Minister of International Relations, from 2019 to 2024, Pandor was a prominent global advocate for the Palestinian cause. She remains vocal through various public platforms.
The picket occurred amid a volatile climate. Although a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached toward the end of last year, it has not halted the violence. Israeli strikes on the besieged enclave have continued, claiming more than 500 lives since the truce began. These latest casualties add to a devastating toll of over 70 000 deaths recorded during the period of intensive warfare between 2023 and 2025.
