DA questions govt's more than R130m expenditure on case against Israel at ICJ

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has questioned the national government's expenditure of more than R130 million on its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, briefed Parliament's portfolio committees on international relations and cooperation and justice on South Africa's case to find Israel guilty of violating the Genocide Convention.

South Africa has already submitted its main arguments to the ICJ, alleging Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Several other countries, including Brazil, Spain, Turkey, and the Republic of Ireland, have asked to intervene in the case.

National Treasury recently allocated another R37 million to fund the government’s genocide case against Israel, pushing the total expenditure on the case to more than R130 million.

Ryan Smith, a DA representative in Parliament's portfolio committee on international relations and cooperation, questioned the cost of the case.

"What have we inflicted on the people of South Africa in the greater international trade and in terms of the greater international economy, and how are South Africans paying the price for this going forward?"

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola insisted his department was committed to seeing the case through to its conclusion.