An opinion piece by Dr Faisal Suliman, chairperson of the South African Muslim Network, first published as a letter to the editor in Al-Qalam on 17 November 2023, ahead of the 2024 national elections.

The argument is simple and it is about registration. There were already dozens of good reasons to register to vote on domestic grounds alone. Gaza, Dr Suliman argues, added another.

Read the full letter on Al-Qalam →

The Case He Makes

South Africa, he writes, is “not immune from what is happening in Gaza and occupied Palestine”. He names five parties — the Democratic Alliance, ActionSA, the ACDP, the Freedom Front Plus and Build One SA — whose positions on the war he characterises as unapologetic support for it, and argues that if that alliance were to form a government, South Africa’s foreign policy on Palestine would be reversed outright.

From there the letter sets out what he expects would follow: prosecutions of South Africans who fight for Israel dropped; arms sales, trade and the use of Israeli surveillance software expanded; recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital accelerated; obstacles placed in the way of pro-Palestinian organisations, speakers and humanitarian transfers; and legislation of the European kind that treats criticism of Israel and of Zionism as antisemitism — which, he argues, would make ordinary anti-Zionist activity here a criminal matter.

He also anticipates increased surveillance of mosques, Muslim NGOs and pro-Palestinian organisations, and the monitoring of fundraising.

Cape Town, 12 November 2023

The letter’s turning point is not a prediction but an event. Dr Suliman points to the policing of Muslims and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Cape Town that weekend — the use of SAPS, metro police and armed private security — as evidence already on the table rather than a forecast.

The time for talking is over as the Zionists use their wealth to buy off politicians and support genocide; however, we can use our numbers to bring about change.

Dr Faisal Suliman, Al-Qalam, 17 November 2023

“We can use our numbers” is the operative phrase, and it is why this belongs in the voter education section rather than only in the commentary. Numbers only count if they are on the roll.

This letter was written in November 2023, ahead of the 2024 national elections. The registration argument it makes applies equally to the local government elections now ahead — see Voter Education for how to register or confirm your details.

The views expressed are the author’s. First published by Al-Qalam, where the letter appears under the spelling “Dr Faisal Suleman”. Shared by the South African Muslim Network. info@samnet.co.za