SA will continue efforts to protect Palestinians against genocide, apartheid - Pandor

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said that South Africa would continue to do everything in its power to protect Palestinians against acts of genocide and apartheid.

She's been meeting with BRICS foreign ministers at a dialogue in Russia this week, in what could be one of her last international engagements before her forced retirement. 

Pandor has not made the cut to return to Parliament, appearing too low down on the African National Congress (ANC)'s candidate list after the party’s ballot thrashing led to a dramatic reduction in parliamentary seats.

Minister Pandor has been the face of South Africa's genocide case against Israel and in what is likely to be her last days in the job, Pandor has appealed to her BRICS counterparts to continue to speak up for those who need support.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has the prerogative to select two non-MPs to serve in his Cabinet.

She welcomed last month’s court order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for Israel to halt military action in Rafah. 

"We continue to call on the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to also act to ensure accountability for those committing war crimes." 

Pandor appealed to BRICS partners to push for full membership of Palestine as a member state of the United Nations and to contribute to the reform of the security council. 

"We have been dismayed at the inability of the security council to act and respond effectively to conflicts situations such as that has befallen Gaza." 

South Africa is preparing to assume the G20 presidency later this year, which Pandor said it would use to advance the African agenda.