South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again condemned Israel’s crimes in Gaza as Genocide, denouncing the “indescribable suffering” inflicted on Palestinians and reaffirming his country’s commitment to justice and international law.

In his annual State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Ramaphosa declared that South Africa’s own history of oppression and liberation obliges it to stand against all forms of colonialism and occupation.

“We have always believed that the freedom we won – and the international solidarity from which we benefited – imposes a duty on us to support the struggles of those who continue to experience colonialism and oppression,” he stated.

Ramaphosa accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, emphasizing that South Africa has taken legal action in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

“South Africa has acted in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention by instituting proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice,” he affirmed, referring to the case filed at the ICJ accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza.

The President stressed that South Africa remains fully committed to the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly the peaceful resolution of conflicts. However, he underscored that justice cannot be achieved without holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable.

“We support the principle of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states and peoples,” he said, making it clear that Palestine’s right to self-determination must be upheld.

Reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism, Ramaphosa called for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council, criticizing its failure to prevent atrocities such as those unfolding in Gaza.

“As humanity confronts unprecedented challenges, we are determined that a reformed and representative United Nations must be at the centre of global affairs,” he asserted.

Ramaphosa also announced that a South African delegation will be sent to key international capitals to explain the country’s positions, particularly as it assumes the G20 presidency. He emphasized the need for global leaders and trading partners to understand South Africa’s unwavering stance on Palestine and its broader commitment to justice and peace.

Through its legal action against Israel and its diplomatic efforts on the world stage, South Africa is positioning itself as a leading voice in the fight against genocide and oppression.

“The work we do and what we stand for needs to be explained to many key players,” Ramaphosa concluded, making it clear that South Africa will not waver in its pursuit of justice for Palestine.

In December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention in its actions against Palestinians in Gaza. Since then, several nations, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Spain, and Türkiye, have joined the proceedings.