Danny K showed his support for Yad Aharon's Can Can Festival by giving a concert that everyone enjoyed.

Laureen Shalpid and Sonia Margolias (Yad Aharaon- fundraising, PR and events) with Danny K at the recent Can Can Festival attending by 2000 people who donated thousand of tin canned food.
Photos by Ilan Ossendryver

Press Statement: SAJBD & SAZF Meeting with Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile

“The Jewish leadership of South Africa commends the South African government’s continued commitment to supporting a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian question. It further welcomes its confirmation that it does not have a policy of supporting boycott campaigns against the State of Israel.

In a meeting held in Cape Town yesterday with senior representatives of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies and SA Zionist Federation, Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile clarified that, notwithstanding certain remarks attributed to him by the media, neither he nor his government supported anti-Israel boycotts. Mashatile further reiterated the Government’s long-standing position of support for a two state solution, with Israel and Palestine as independent States existing side by side.

It was agreed at the meeting that current efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestine conflict should be supported, and that South Africa should continue to use its experience of how it brought about a peaceful negotiated settlement to assist with finding a lasting solution in the region.

A summary of what was discussed and agreed upon at the meeting was subsequently sent to all participants by Mr Mashatile’s office afterwards”. (VIEW STATEMENT BELOW)

Issued by:

SA Zionist Federation and SA Jewish Board of Deputies

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OUTCOME OF THE MEETING BETWEEN MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE PAUL MASHATILE AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN
SOUTH AFRICA

14 FEBRUARY 2012
CAPE TOWN, PARLIAMENT TOWERS
Minister Mashatile and representatives of the Jewish Community in South Africa met today in Cape Town to discuss issues that arose during a press briefing on the 1st February 2012 when Minister Mashatile and Deputy Minister Joe Phaahla met and signed a Cultural Agreement with HE Siham Mohammad Abdel Salam Barghouty: Minister of Culture in the State of Palestine and HE Mr Musa Abugharbieh, Deputy Minister of Culture in the State of Palestine.

The representatives of the Jewish Community in South Africa raised concerns about the alleged remarks that the Minister made that he may consider supporting boycott campaigns against Israel.

The Minister and Deputy Minister clarified to the delegation that there was no statement made calling for a boycott or supporting a campaign to boycott Israel.

Minister and Deputy Minister reiterated the Government’s position to support a two state solution with Israel and Palestine as independent States existing side by side.

The meeting acknowledged efforts currently unfolding to ensure a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

The meeting also acknowledged that the signing of the Cultural Agreement between South Africa and Palestine was informed by the diplomatic and long standing relationship between the people of South Africa and the people of Palestine.

The meeting agreed that South Africa must continue to use its experience of how it brought about a peaceful negotiated settlement to assist with finding a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

In Attendance
Minister’s delegation
Minister Paul Mashatile and Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, Professor KeorapetseKgositsile, Mr MduduziMbada, Special Advisors to the Minister, Ms KalayMaistry, Communications Advisor to the Minister.

Jewish Community Delegation
Chairperson of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Ms Mary Kluk, President of the SA Zionist Federation, AdvJonathan Silke, President of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, Mr Zev Krengel, and National Director of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, Ms Wendy Kahn.

We call on the the South African Government to take immediate action and prevent the poaching of our wildlife especially Rhinos that are being brutally murdered for their horns and shipped off to the Far East. We call on the Chinese government to put a ban on the import of rhino horns into their country. According to scientists, Rhino horns have no medicinal properties whatsoever. Photo by Ilan Ossendryver