LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Issued by: SAJBD
Attention: News Editors
For immediate release:
12 March 2013
JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES APPROACHES SA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OVER DEPUTY MINISTER'S DIVISIVE RHETORIC
The SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has requested the SA Human Rights Commission to intervene in a matter concerning certain inflammatory remarks made by Deputy Minister Marius Fransman. The SAJBD decided to approach the SAHRC after several requests to Mr Fransman's offices for a meeting to discuss and clarify his statements received no response.
In a radio interview broadcast by Voice of the Cape on 27 February Mr Fransman, speaking in his other capacity as ANC leader in the Western Cape, condemned the Democratic Alliance for allegedly giving building contracts that had previously been held by Muslims to Jewish businessmen.
The substance and context of these remarks clearly intimated that in the view of Mr Fransman and his party, the Jewish community in Cape Town was unfairly benefiting economically at the expense of the Muslim community.
Specifically, Mr Fransman stated the following:
We saw that the DA had given over building contracts .. as well as lots of contracts in Woodstock and Observatory that historically were in the hands of Muslim participants and now they have given it to people from the Jewish community; so that we've picked up and so that is not right. We must not divide our people.
The religious affiliations of the individuals allegedly concerned should have been regarded as entirely irrelevant. Instead, Mr Fransman made a point of drawing attention to them, and did so, moreover, in terms suggesting that Muslims were being unfairly disadvantaged in order to benefit the Jewish community. It can only be inferred that his purpose in doing so was to solicit Muslim support for his party by suggesting that a rival political party was promoting Jewish economic interests at the expense of Muslims.
Mary Kluk, National Chairman of the SAJBD, said that pitting one religious community against another for vote-catching purposes was deplorable under any circumstances, and was particularly unacceptable when coming from a high-ranking member of government.
"The SAJBD unequivocally condemns attempts to pursue political goals through resorting to such inflammatory practices. Doing so diametrically contradict the ethos of tolerance and inter-group harmony on which our society is proud to base itself" she said.
Mrs Kluk further emphasized that in the lead-up to next year's national elections, it was all the more imperative that political leaders refrain from rhetoric that generated resentment and mistrust between different groups, whether these are defined along racial, religious, ethnic, linguistic or any other lines.
For more information please contact Mary Kluk on 083 77 586 18 or Zev Krengel on 082 557 9681
Issued by Wendy Kahn
National Director: SAJBD
Charisse Zeifert
Head: Communications
South African Jewish Board of Deputies
' 011 645 2547 (direct) or 082 427-2788 (mobile)
6 086 614 6789
* [email protected]
+ PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041
<www.jewishsa.co.za/> www.jewishsa.co.za
Source : Ends /avb
Date : 12 Mar 2013 13:05
Attention: News Editors
For immediate release:
12 March 2013
JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES APPROACHES SA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OVER DEPUTY MINISTER'S DIVISIVE RHETORIC
The SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has requested the SA Human Rights Commission to intervene in a matter concerning certain inflammatory remarks made by Deputy Minister Marius Fransman. The SAJBD decided to approach the SAHRC after several requests to Mr Fransman's offices for a meeting to discuss and clarify his statements received no response.
In a radio interview broadcast by Voice of the Cape on 27 February Mr Fransman, speaking in his other capacity as ANC leader in the Western Cape, condemned the Democratic Alliance for allegedly giving building contracts that had previously been held by Muslims to Jewish businessmen.
The substance and context of these remarks clearly intimated that in the view of Mr Fransman and his party, the Jewish community in Cape Town was unfairly benefiting economically at the expense of the Muslim community.
Specifically, Mr Fransman stated the following:
We saw that the DA had given over building contracts .. as well as lots of contracts in Woodstock and Observatory that historically were in the hands of Muslim participants and now they have given it to people from the Jewish community; so that we've picked up and so that is not right. We must not divide our people.
The religious affiliations of the individuals allegedly concerned should have been regarded as entirely irrelevant. Instead, Mr Fransman made a point of drawing attention to them, and did so, moreover, in terms suggesting that Muslims were being unfairly disadvantaged in order to benefit the Jewish community. It can only be inferred that his purpose in doing so was to solicit Muslim support for his party by suggesting that a rival political party was promoting Jewish economic interests at the expense of Muslims.
Mary Kluk, National Chairman of the SAJBD, said that pitting one religious community against another for vote-catching purposes was deplorable under any circumstances, and was particularly unacceptable when coming from a high-ranking member of government.
"The SAJBD unequivocally condemns attempts to pursue political goals through resorting to such inflammatory practices. Doing so diametrically contradict the ethos of tolerance and inter-group harmony on which our society is proud to base itself" she said.
Mrs Kluk further emphasized that in the lead-up to next year's national elections, it was all the more imperative that political leaders refrain from rhetoric that generated resentment and mistrust between different groups, whether these are defined along racial, religious, ethnic, linguistic or any other lines.
For more information please contact Mary Kluk on 083 77 586 18 or Zev Krengel on 082 557 9681
Issued by Wendy Kahn
National Director: SAJBD
Charisse Zeifert
Head: Communications
South African Jewish Board of Deputies
' 011 645 2547 (direct) or 082 427-2788 (mobile)
6 086 614 6789
* [email protected]
+ PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041
<www.jewishsa.co.za/> www.jewishsa.co.za
Source : Ends /avb
Date : 12 Mar 2013 13:05
