South Africa’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, announced last Thursday that the country will persist in leveraging global institutions to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people and ensure the equitable application of international law.

He also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to supporting the people of Western Sahara in their pursuit of self-determination.

During his inaugural public address on foreign policy in Cape Town since his appointment earlier this month, Lamola stated, “South Africa will continue to do everything within its power to preserve the existence of the Palestinian people as a group.”

He emphasiSed that South Africa will collaborate with global institutions to put an end to all acts of apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people.

Lamola reiterated South Africa’s dedication to accompanying the Palestinians in their struggle for self-determination, informed by the country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Previously serving as the minister of justice and correctional services, Lamola highlighted South Africa’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the Palestinian plight through various multilateral platforms, including the UN, and its calls for humanitarian aid access for the people of Gaza.

Lamola noted that South Africa spearheaded the referral by six states on the Palestinian situation to the International Criminal Court.

“Our foreign policy, rooted in our history of solidarity with those fighting oppression and occupation, compels us to support the people of Western Sahara in their quest for self-determination,” he stated.

The minister urged the UN to take prompt action toward holding the long-promised referendum on the self-determination of the disputed Western Sahara region.

He also highlighted multilateralism as a cornerstone of South Africa’s foreign policy, leveraging its membership in various international forums to advance the African agenda and promote a more rules-based multilateral system and a more just and equitable world.

Lamola highlighted South Africa’s consistent advocacy for reforming global governance institutions, such as the UN Security Council, to better reflect current global political and economic realities and to be more representative and responsive to the needs of the Global South.