Cape Town, South Africa – When South Africa, under its ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January on allegations of genocide in Gaza, it drew applause from a range of nations, especially in the Global South.
Back at home, though, the support was more muted among the country’s other political parties. The ANC’s main rival at the time, the right-leaning Democratic Alliance (DA), opposed the step — although it subsequently asked Israel to adhere to the ICJ’s interim rulings. The right-wing populist Patriotic Alliance (PA) called South Africa’s move a “joke”.
