Voices
Dictating to Jews, undemocratic and undiplomatic
In recent weeks, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies has observed a rise in increasingly hostile efforts to challenge the perspectives of our community organisations and silence “mainstream” Jewish voices. In this case, “mainstream” Jewish refers to community members who are traditionally Jewish in observance – be it Orthodox or Progressive – and Zionist in orientation. Yet, the discourse has shifted, increasingly framing Zionism itself as beyond acceptable bounds, thereby deeming aligned groups inherently problematic. What stands out, however, is that the campaign against mainstream Jewry is increasingly desperate, incoherent, and too often driven by a quest for attention rather than substantive dialogue.
The latest and most notable attempt to silence us has emerged from Zane Dangor, the director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), published in Daily Maverick.
This week, we were privileged to welcome Loay Alshareef to our community, whose compelling message of peace and mutual respect has resonated deeply. Among his key insights is the peril of allowing extremist voices to dominate discourse as it erodes the foundations essential for true peace building. It’s therefore profoundly regrettable that Daily Maverick, once renowned for its rigorous journalism, has permitted its platform to be overtaken by an unrelenting fixation on anti-Israel rhetoric.
Dangor has been a key ideological engine in Dirco, and has steered its obsession in ways that neglect the pressing needs facing South Africans. In the interview, Dangor presumes to interpret Zionism on our behalf, identifying and praising anti-Zionist groups which he finds palatable. Additionally, Dangor, as a public employee with a very key role in the international relations of our country, has absolutely overstepped the line in his anti-democratic attempts to silence citizens of this country.
It is deeply offensive that Dangor assumes upon himself the moral and academic authority to redefine Zionism, Judaism, and antisemitism for our community. Dangor’s claim that Zionism is a Christian concept detached from Judaism is not just historically inaccurate, it represents an attempt to redefine our heritage, our chosen beliefs, and political rights. In fact, the historical and religious connection of the Jewish people to Israel, and the legitimate political belief that the Jewish people have a right to political self-determination in this land – “Zionism” – is irrelevant in this case. As a government official, Dangor lacks any standing to prescribe which beliefs are permissible for an entire segment of South African society.
We in the Jewish community are all too aware that when Dangor and those like him target “Zionists”, they are, in truth, targeting Jews. The fact that not all Jews are Zionists doesn’t sanitise the malice, nor does it validate the veneer of anti-Zionism as a shield for anti-Jewish sentiment, especially when supported by faux claims that the history of Zionism is detached from Judaism or lacks Judaic roots. We can clearly see how the construct and criticism of antisemitism have morphed into the more societally acceptable idea of ”anti-Zionism”. We are not fooled.
yitzchak
September 1, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Zayin Dangor is well within the ANC Nomenklatura especially being Jesse Duarte’s Nephew.
The cant and hypocrisy is stark.
His deputy minister(Botes) in addressing a meeting on nuclear disarmament did not even mention Iran since much of recent manoeuvres have involved Iran.
The there is the bigoted and unbridled attack by the same Botes on Israel and failures in IHL.You cannot go cherry(or nose ) picking in such law chosing the IHL and Geneva Conventions, ICRC mandates, and the genocide conventions when convenient.
He talks about the conflict in nationalist terms but HAMAS and Islamic Jihad don’t have the word Palestine in their self definition and their flags have crests showing one state. The PA and PLO define Palestine ideologically ,they do not.Therein lies the problem because Hamas and IJ want an end of any Jewish expression in Israel.DIRCO should speak to the muslim community about transgressions,not us. While Hamas and Hizballah have offices in RSA what is there to talk about?
But Kevin Bloom and his pas de deux,doing pirouettes with his political admirers, can next go and interview with his leading questions to anti-Israeli opponents and muslim spokesmen.Jewish Currants is another anti Zionist outfit with Peter Beinart as its lead contributor.
But what is clear is there is a determined effort to remove Jewish good deeds and magnanimity (Tikkun Afrika,The Smile program) from their Jewish roots.
BDS could not even countenance an exhibition of Jewish Life at the Institut du Monde Arab in Paris.
It wasn’t an exhibition of Zionism.
So Mr Dangor thinks that Zionism is an anachronistic aberration.7.10.2023 took place on Simchat Torah when we finish Deuteronomy and start the weekly cycle of Genesis from our Book.(Torah).yEs we are The People of The Book,and as we return the scrolls to the Ark, we sing Ki Mitsiyon Teitzeh ToraH…: From ZION will the Torah go.
Yes we saw the true face of Jihad on 7.10.2023 when the descendants of Ishmael circumcised by Ibrahim,under the order of Allah, with what covenant (?) descended on our towns and villages impaling our daughters and no doubt shouting in their ecstacy, “Allahu Akbar”. So much kindness for “The People of the Book”.and then murdering them.
Moslem committment to IHL is a phallusy.He(KB, ZD) should speak to them about”Collective humanity”
Maybe Mr Dangor can reflect on all the theocratic states of the middle east and their devotion to Islam?
Let’s not allow anyone to forget 7.10.2023. For him to imply that there was a casus belli for 7.10.2023 tells how much he slid on a pile of buffalo pats.
Bonita Meyersfeld
September 2, 2025 at 10:12 pm
I do not agree with the comments about Zane Dangor. I know Zane and his family well. I supervised Zane when he undertook his LLM as an older student and have worked with him closely on an array of human rights issues since, including the fight in 2017 to ensure the payment of grants. He is a person of great integrity and I can say categorically that Zane Dangor is not anti-semitic and he is not targeting Jews.