The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has lodged a complaint with the country’s Human Rights Commission against South African deputy foreign minister Fatima Hajaig for anti-Jewish hate speech. The complaint is based on statements made by Hajaig at a pro-Palestinian rally two weeks ago, in which she alleged that the control of the United States and most other Western countries was in the hands of "Jewish money power". Speaking in her capacity as deputy minister, Hajaig said that the Jews "in fact control [America], no matter which government comes in to power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barack Obama or George Bush. The control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else."
SAJBD director Wendy Kahn strongly condemned what she termed "classic anti-Jewish stereotyping and conspiracy-theory mongering", which were typically used by those seeking to portray Jews as scheming, manipulative and disloyal to the countries in which they lived. "The Jewish community is outraged by such a public display of bigotry by a senior government representative. As South African citizens, we cannot allow this kind of comment to be brought into this country," Kahn said.
