Outrage after S African minister
denied entry to Israel
South Africa demands explanation from Tel
Aviv after minister is denied visa to visit Israel
for diplomatic work.

Johannesburg, South Africa - The government of South Africa has expressed outrage after Israel's decision to deny a visa to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.

Clayson Monyela, Deputy Director General of Department of International Relations and Cooperation, told Al Jazeera on Thursday the Israeli government needed to offer a reason for the snubbing.

"We are taking it up through the proper channels.
"We need to receive a proper explanation for the denial of a visa to a sitting cabinet minister," Monyela said.
The minister was scheduled to travel to the occupied Palestinian territories from April 25-29. He was scheduled to secure further collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and institutions in Palestine.

Nzimande's spokesperson told local media that the denial of the visa had caused a "serious diplomatic problem".
Naeem Jeenah, Director of Afro-Middle East Centre, based in Johannesburg, described the snubbing as "surprising" considering the two countries' growing trade relations.

Jeenah said the Palestinian solidarity movement in South Africa "would be thrilled" with Israel's decision "because South Africa now has to respond to this matter".
Arthur Lenk, the Israeli ambassador in Pretoria, told Al Jazeera that South African officials routinely visit the West Bank through Israel.
Lenk would not be drawn into discussing why specifically Nzimande's visa application was denied, though he described the minister as being "very vocal on a range of issues connected to Israel, South Africa and my region".
The ambassador said the decision to deny the visa was made in Israel.

"The decision came from Jerusalem," Lenk said.
Vocal critic of Israel
But Jeenah said that anything the Israelis say on the matter "could really only make the situation worse".
The Palestinian embassy in South Africa described the decision as "racist".
"We take note by this aggressive action that Israel is trying to implement the same rule as in the previous apartheid regime of South Africa," the embassy said in a statement.
The Palestinian lobby group Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS-South Africa) released a statement saying it's "more confident than ever that its time to expel the Israeli Ambassador from South Africa".
"Israel cannot want to tell us who our friends should be, where we should travel and who we can speak with." BDS said.
Nzimande has been a vocal critic of Israel. His spokesperson said on Thursday the minister would call on all higher education institutions to cut ties with their counterparts in Israel.
"We must just boycott Israel," Nkwanyana reportedly said.
South Africa currently has full diplomatic relations with Israel and recognises Israel within the borders demarcated by the United Nations (UN) in 1948.
In 2012, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ebrahim Ebrahim discouraged South Africans from visiting Israel.
"We do not prevent them. We say we discourage them."
Source: Al Jazeera

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/04/outrage-african-minister-denied-entry-israel-150424114354332.html

lsreal is simply afraid of their xenophobic disease.SA is now abandoned everywhere and they better not cry to African Union.They should weep to that their zulu king since they love his words so much.

Thanks to lsrael for making that savage country know how it feels to be rejected.God bless israel

I no fit laugh abeg

....

A country that can send its own brothers out and leave white visitors in its home cannot be trusted. You think say oyibo mumu? Soon the world will reject them.

First it was Xenophobia, now South Africa is trying to ally with Palestine and they want to access it via Israel? These guys don't know a thing about foreign policies do they? Trying to mask entry to a region using Higher education as an excuse, do they think Israel is dumb?

How many standard universities does Palestine have that they want to partner with them?

They are just stepping on toes everywhere. The Israel/Palestine case is sensitive and SA is trying to pocknose. . . I wish them all the beXt

My Opinion...

One BAD turn deserves another............feel the pain of being REJECTED

Outrage? Seriously? South Africa is becoming a cancer to the body of the world. And the world should quickly seek a cure before the cancer enhances its virulence by spreading.

If Israel like let them slap Zuma Jacob, he no concern any sane country especially African countries. Shey dem b no want any body for their country, let dem face the issue alone. BASTARDS!

That was totally uncalled for what's the meaning of all these

Hehehhehe! I just dey laff.
Karma is a fricking b!tch!

Outrage! They should put their house in order. South African government must compensate those that loss love ones and properties.

this is just d beginning. dem serve u just small tea wey ur country people dey give foreigners and u dey complain. mtchewwe.

and they are dumb enough to demand explanations.

them isreal no get time at all.....

Xenophobic Country? Israel will never be associated 'cos South Africa is a Bush people's Nation. This is a Fact!!!

What goes around comes around

Avigdor Liberman lashed out Friday at the South African government after it reacted angrily to Israel’s refusal to grant a visa to a higher education minister who was invited to an academic conference in the West Bank.

The controversy erupted after the South African minister of higher education, Blade Nzimande, was denied an entry visa into Israel by the Israeli embassy in Johannesburg.

Nzimande, a member of the South African Communist Party, was scheduled to arrive this weekend at Birzeit University for the opening of the Center for African Studies.

“The Israeli government is trying by all means to hide their atrocities against the Palestinian people, and minimize the number of people who can actually see what is happening on the ground,” Nzimande told South African media.

The minister said he believes Israel’s refusal stems from the Communist Party’s decades-long support for the Palestinian cause.

“The wild attacks by the South African Community Party against Israel following our refusal to allow the higher education minister to pass through Israel en route to the Palestinian Authority is hypocrisy,” Liberman said.

“It was only a few days ago that a violent, racist attack was perpetrated against foreigners in Johannesburg,” the foreign minister said. “There was also vandalism and destruction of property. The end result was many deaths and wounded.”

“As part of the rioting, South African police fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades at other migrants from neighboring African countries,” Liberman said. “These events and others prove once again that South Africa remains a country with serious problems of racism and violence.”

“That’s why it would behoove the South African government and the Communist Party to stop preaching morality and attacking Israel, which is a great democracy that is exceptionally coping with threats and terrorist elements while making maximal effort to preserve human rights and international norms of behavior.”

If South Africa was forced to contend with Israel’s security predicament, “blood would be awash in the streets there,” Liberman said.

“In this light, it’s no surprise that the Communist Party prefers the Palestinians over Israel,” he said. “It is a case of like attracting like.”


http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Liberman-lashes-out-at-South-Africa-after-Israel-denies-visa-to-Communist-minister-399089

Good for him


I regrets spending our billions of dollar on South Africa during their trying time, that money could have been used for other purpose.


Mad people! #Xeno not phobia

The fools are even threatening to boycott Israel.

Wicked people...

Imagine. The HIV INFECTED DOGS called it racism.

Infact laaarin awa pelu soouti, IJA sheshe bare ni. Theyve seen nothing yet

Sebi them no want people in their country so what are d fools looking for in other peoples country? The world should regect South Africans totally. Ediots

Imagine a man crossing my sitting room to my backyard to "hold relations" with my hostile neighbour! I have a right to block passage especially when his children have started killing other kids that innocently go to his house to play in the name that "the other kids have taken up all the toys!"! Dear Zuma, advice me on the best action to take! Odes!

Why will they allow you enter their country when you are willing killing your own brothers. Nobody wants a xenophobic maniac in his country.

Nice one Israel............. South Africans should be treated as an outcast. That's what they deserve.

raining heavily here. this will serve as a lesson

Good for those useless SA govt.Imagine sending a Blade to Israel to go and cut them/spread their Aids virus.

Good

Serves him right