The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) warmly and unequivocally welcomes the decision by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to declare Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata and to order him to leave South Africa within 72 hours. This is a principled, courageous and long-overdue step. No representative of an apartheid and genocidal state should enjoy diplomatic comfort in a country whose freedom was won through the defeat of apartheid. Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories constitute: war crimes crimes against humanity collective punishment the killing of thousands of civilians, women and children and a system of racial segregation that mirrors the worst features of apartheid South Africa For Israel’s envoy to remain here while that regime carries out such atrocities would be an insult to the memory of our own liberation struggle. By expelling Ariel Seidman, South Africa has made it clear that: Our sovereignty will not be undermined.International law must be respected.Apartheid has consequences. As a federation representing millions of working-class families, SAFTU stands firmly with the Palestinian people. Workers in South Africa recognise apartheid when they see it , and we refuse to be neutral in the face of oppression. We commend DIRCO for taking this decisive action. But this must not be the last step. SAFTU calls on government to: further downgrade diplomatic relations with Israel suspend military, security and trade cooperation support sanctions and international isolation intensify action at the International Court of Justice actively support the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign Apartheid in South Africa fell because the world isolated it. The same must happen to Israeli apartheid. An injury to one is an injury to all.Free Palestine. Issued on behalf of the SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. For media inquiries, contact the National SpokespersonNewton Masukunewtonm@saftu.org.za 0661682157 Media OfficerAsive Dyani0719019564

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) warmly and unequivocally welcomes the decision by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to declare Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata and to order him to leave South Africa within 72 hours. This is a principled, courageous and long-overdue step. No representative of an apartheid and genocidal state should enjoy diplomatic comfort in a country whose freedom was won through the defeat of apartheid. Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories constitute: war crimes crimes against humanity collective punishment the killing of thousands of civilians, women and children and a system of racial segregation that mirrors the worst features of apartheid South Africa For Israel’s envoy to remain here while that regime carries out such atrocities would be an insult to the memory of our own liberation struggle. By expelling Ariel Seidman, South Africa has made it clear that: Our sovereignty will not be undermined.International law must be respected.Apartheid has consequences. As a federation representing millions of working-class families, SAFTU stands firmly with the Palestinian people. Workers in South Africa recognise apartheid when they see it , and we refuse to be neutral in the face of oppression. We commend DIRCO for taking this decisive action. But this must not be the last step. SAFTU calls on government to: further downgrade diplomatic relations with Israel suspend military, security and trade cooperation support sanctions and international isolation intensify action at the International Court of Justice actively support the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign Apartheid in South Africa fell because the world isolated it. The same must happen to Israeli apartheid. An injury to one is an injury to all.Free Palestine. Issued on behalf of the SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. For media inquiries, contact the National SpokespersonNewton Masukunewtonm@saftu.org.za 0661682157 Media OfficerAsive Dyani0719019564