Govt ‘unconcerned’ about Hamas visit to SA - Ntshavheni

Ntshavheni on Thursday briefed the media on this week’s cabinet meeting.

A senior delegation representing the group is reportedly attending the Fifth Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine.

The Palestinian group, which ruled the Gaza Strip, is a proscribed terror organisation in many countries, including the UK and US.

"I do not recall the UN classification of Hamas as terrorists, and we don't know of a Hamas office in South Africa. So I can't say that there is or there isn't any Hamas in South Africa. We don't have that type of evidence."

On 7 October, Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.

The Israeli military responded with air strikes on Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has killed some 15,000 people.

She added that the government doesn’t track groups or individuals who visit the country.

"We are not in the business of tracking anyone. I don't know how the government must account for people who are coming to attend private conferences that are attended in the country. If they meet with the government, we will announce, but we have no schedule of meeting with them."

Meanwhile, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has expressed its disgust at the presence of Hamas members in the country.

It says three Hamas representatives, including its representative in Iran, Dr Khaled Qaddoumi, are currently in South Africa to attend the Palestinian solidarity event.

The SAJBD says Dr Khaled Qaddoumi lied to the SABC when he denied that Hamas was holding children hostage.

"The SAJBD also finds it ironic that Hamas is being welcomed to South Africa during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence," said SAJBD national chairperson Karen Milner.

ALSO READ