ANC Refuses to Recall Naledi Pandor Following Phone Call to Hamas Leader

The African National Congress (ANC) has declared unequivocal support for Minister Naledi Pandor, currently under scrutiny for her recent phone call with Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the militant group, Hamas.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the International Relations and Cooperation Minister engaged in the phone conversation at the request of the Hamas leader. The dialogue focused on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, stemming from protracted bombing and stringent sanctions on food, electricity, and water supplies by Israeli authorities.

National spokesperson of the ANC, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, appearing on Newzroom Afrika, considerd the controversy surrounding Pandor's phone call an unnecessary hype meant to shape a specific narrative. Bhengu-Motsiri further argued that the Minister was performing her duties by engaging with all active parties in Palestine.

Bhengu-Motsiri emphasized that the ANC possesses a longstanding relationship with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), rather than Hamas. These historical alliances with freedom movements worldwide remain a cornerstone of ANC's ethos.

Despite demands for Pandor's resignation by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, the ANC official stated that Minister Pandor will not be dismissed. Responses to these actions are forthcoming, with plans for the ANC to hold candid discussions with the SA Jewish Board of Deputies.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the Gaza siege, maintaining that the remedy to the Palestine-Israel conflict must be a two-state solution based on 1967 frontiers. Ramaphosa has also shown willingness to mediate peace negotiations, shaping South Africa's role as an integral player in conflict resolutions.