How Naledi Pandor’s contribution shaped SA’s path

Enver Surty

I have known and worked with cadre Naledi Pandor for much of my life as a political activist, colleague and comrade.

I have admired her temperament, remorseless logic and her ceaseless quest for justice in matters of the state and party.

The purpose of this (edited) contribution is to look back and trace, in some detail, cadre Naledi’s enormous contribution to many facets of South African political social and economic life; each showing a tenacity, a resolve and a vision that has made our country a better place to live in.

The first part is introductory and dwells on her role in Parliament from the inception of our democracy and the second part (to be published on Monday) shall deal with her role in the executive which straddles many portfolios for over two decades.

It was a privilege, a special one – to work with and support her for more than a decade in these varied roles.

Her work as Minister of Science and Technology, Home Affairs and International Relations and Co-operation is equally remarkable, but will not be expanded on in detail. However, I shall refer to some important aspects, Cde Naledi will be the first to point out that much of the work she engaged in and with derived from the policies of the ANC and built on the foundations her predecessors initiated. In that sense, she saw herself as part of a collective pivoting on ANC policy resolutions.

Dr Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor is feisty, fearless and a patriot of quite remarkable lineage and character. An intellectual and academic, always respectful and humble but ever one to speak her truth as only she could!

The collective in the government and the ANC were all moved by the extraordinary courage, enduring resilience and principled conviction of Cde Naledi when she – with the full support of the President of the Republic of South Africa, the Minister of Justice and Cabinet – approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ), sitting in The Hague for an order against the Israeli apartheid state for the ongoing and relentless genocide in Palestine.

South Africa remains to this day gravely concerned about persistent reports of the gross violations of human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes against Palestinian civilians.

The enduring brutality, destruction and murder has since spilled over into other territories in Palestine, and continues unabated while parts of the global governance agencies are sitting on their hands.

We have repeatedly stated, for the record, that we condemn all violence and attacks against all/any civilians.

Moreover, we have continuously called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the resumption of talks that will end the onslaught arising from the continued belligerent and unlawful occupation of Palestine.

As a State Party to the Convention, South Africa is under a treaty obligation to prevent genocide from occurring. Therefore, at a special meeting held on December 8, 2023, our Cabinet directed that the ICJ be approached to obtain an order directing Israel, which incidentally, is also a State Party, to refrain from any acts that may constitute genocide or related crimes under the convention.

An application in this regard was filed before the Court on December 29, in which the Court was requested to declare, on an urgent basis, that Israel is in breach of its obligations in terms of the convention and that it should immediately cease all acts and measures in breach of those obligations and take a number of related actions.

The South African government provided extensive evidence and argued convincingly for a temporary or interim order to stop the war and genocide,on the basis that it was plausible that Israel was guilty of committing genocide and war crimes. This extraordinary action, led by the fastidious Cde Naledi required character, compassion and conviction to expose, and for the world to see and witness the callousness, inhumanity and hypocrisy of Israel, the US and all of its allies. It was a resounding victory for South Africa, Africa and humanity at large, when the ICJ found almost unanimously in South Africa’s favour.

The legal action we pursued has effectively dismantled false binaries, dichotomies and narratives – clearly those who believe without reason can never be convinced by reason! Unlike those who feigned ignorance, framing the events post October 7 as an “external attack” with Palestinian groups crossing a sovereign border, Cde Naledi has been at the forefront, informed by evidence, to underscore the broader context: the ongoing denial of self-determination, the refugees’ right to return and the obliteration of an innocent people.

This legal challenge shatters the illusions that shielded many from the harsh reality of the situation. Despite Israel’s denial, Gaza remains effectively occupied due to Israel’s control over the territory. We contend that Israel has employed starvation as a method of warfare against the impoverished enclave, enduring four disproportionately severe onslaughts since 2000.

By characterising Israel’s governance over Palestinians as apartheid, Cde Naledi draws on historical parallels and echoes findings and evidence from world renowned human rights organisations and UN experts.

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it matters most that has made it possible for this evil to reach its current cataclysmic levels. And, amid this raging Israeli smell of napalm, the calm voice of Cde Naledi straddles the universe like a real colossus – fearlessly, bravely.

It is necessary that we reflect on the illustrious career of one as gifted as Cde Naledi.Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, a listening ear. This was another terrain where, as a natural leader, Cde Naledi’s contribution was a treasure.

When democracy was ushered into our Parliament, Cde Naledi was among the many highly skilled, intelligent and competent women who assumed institutional responsibilities in a non-racial and non-sexist society. She was in the good company of stalwarts such as Frene Ginwala (First Speaker in our democratically elected National Assembly), Baleka Mbete, Thandi Modise, Brigitte Mabandla, Mavivi Manzini and many other cadres with extraordinary ability.

She was elected Deputy Chief Whip of the National Assembly and Arnold Stofile (later Premier of the Eastern Cape) was elected Chief Whip. No technical and or administrative support was provided to the ANC.

Parliament and government were, at that point, alien to the cadres of the movement. It meant learning fast, working very hard and doing many things at the same time. As Deputy Chief Whip she would serve on the Programming Committee, Rules Committee, Joint Rules Committee and a range of other portfolios, including education.

Cde Naledi played a crucial role in shaping these rules and legislation on the powers and privileges of members of Parliament. This had to be aligned with the Constitution and be consistent with the rules and procedures that were being developed.

Among the many tasks she had to perform as Deputy Chief Whip was the promotion of social cohesion and reconciliation in a manner which would replace our divided and polarised society with an inclusive and diverse society working towards unity.

The enormous contribution of women of the calibre of Pandor, Mabandla, Manzini, Mbete, Modise and Ginwala, among many others, was an affirmation of the vital role women played in the leadership of the ANC, the process of constitutional development and governance.

These women had the added responsibility to care for their families.

At that time, Cde Naledi’s children were still young, but she balanced her family commitments with the same dedication and vigour she devoted to her responsibilities to her country.

Cde Naledi’s protests, discussions and remarks were an act of love. It was born out of a deeply held family tradition that South Africa could be a better and kinder place for all who lived in it.

Cde Naledi saying no to injustice was borne of a natural spirit of resistance, yet too her obsession with defeating poverty, was the ultimate declaration of hope for all of us.

* Surty served as Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces, negotiator on the Bill of Rights, Deputy Minister of Education, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Deputy Minister of Basic Education.

Cape Times