Despite the ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice, the South African government refuses to ban coal exports. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, recently told Parliament that no plans exist to review these trade links.
Tau argued that unilateral sanctions would violate World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules regarding non-discrimination. He stated that without a United Nations Security Council resolution, South Africa remains bound by these international trade frameworks.
SMread: SA is still selling coal to Israel — and activists want it stopped
Claims disputed
Human rights lawyer Sirhaan Ché Khan recently authored a 264-page dossier titled “Fuelling Genocide” to challenge this official stance. Khan notes that South Africa now provides 88% of Israel’s seaborne thermal coal following an embargo by Colombia.
2This coal reportedly powers the Israeli National Coal Supply Corporation, a state-owned entity that fuels the country’s military and surveillance infrastructure. Khan argues that the WTO framework contains specific exceptions to protect human life and public morals during international emergencies.
“It is an absolutely ridiculous response,” Khan stated regarding the government’s refusal to act. He explained that the company buying the coal is state-owned, meaning the customers are essentially the Israeli government.
Khan further noted that the Vienna Conventions render trade agreements void if they result in violations of peremptory norms like the prohibition against genocide. Activists believe the government is adopts the narrowest possible interpretation of its legal constraints to maintain these coal exports.
South Africa exported 1.8-million tons of coal to Israel in 2025, which represents a significant portion of Israel’s energy needs. While the government claims its hands are tied, legal experts maintain that domestic frameworks allow for immediate action. The SA BDS Coalition has vowed to escalate its campaign to ensure that coal exports do not continue to power the Israeli grid.
Image: Trade, industry & competition minister Parks Tau. Picture: BUSINESS DAY/FREDDY MAVUNDA
