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BDS Movement Undermines South Africans

(Daily Maverick-South Africa) Rhulani Thembi Siweya - The trajectory taken by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement in South Africa (BDS-SA) to selectively discriminate against entrepreneurial and business opportunities by corporations linked to Israel, if not challenged, may lead to unwarranted job losses in South Africa. With our unemployment rate remaining alarmingly high at 27%, the South African reality necessitates the need to focus on the economy and maintain trade relations with other countries that excel in certain vital economic aspects. This is in the best interests of the people of South Africa. A few days ago, BDS-SA threatened to disrupt investments from Brimstone Investment Corporation that has committed to developing and improving South Africa's biggest dairy company, Clover. Why is BDS-SA so willing to sacrifice its fellow South African workers for its own self-serving position? The call by BDS-SA undermines the strides made by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attract vital foreign investment. Palestinian Authority officials were recently seen sitting around a table with several juice bottles, all products from Israel. How does BDS-SA call on South African companies to boycott Israeli products while Palestinian leaders themselves are not boycotting those same products? BDS-SA does not hold any electoral mandate and its lobbying must not be at the expense of the South African worker. It must encourage the people of Palestine to sit with the Israelis at the negotiation table. The writer is a member of the ruling African National Congress Youth League National Executive Committee.
2019-02-18 00:00:00
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