Protesters in several South African cities on Thursday, August 21, demanded that the Government impose an embargo on coal shipments to Israel, accusing local mining companies of fuelling Tel Aviv’s military campaign in Gaza.
Demonstrators carried placards denouncing Glencore, the mining giant that exports coal to Israel, alleging the fuel helps sustain Israel’s electricity grid and, by extension, its high-tech military operations. “It is appalling that tons of coal exported from South Africa to the settler colonial regime fuels the regime’s slaughter of Palestinians”, said Iqbal Jassat of the Media Review Network, urging the Government to act decisively.
Marches were held in Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town outside the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition, with unions and activists accusing the Government of hypocrisy for simultaneously challenging Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) while allowing coal exports to continue.
GIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei said supplying coal to Israel undermines South Africa’s principled stance against genocide. While protesters stressed their views have been registered, they acknowledged the decision ultimately rests with the government.
The demonstrations come amid international scrutiny of Glencore, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro last month threatening to alter the company’s concession contract if it continued exports to Israel. Since October 2023, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians and triggered genocide proceedings at the ICJ.