SA delegates detail horror experience during Global March to Gaza

SOUTH Africans taking part in the Global March to Gaza (GMTG) have recounted stories of intimidation including detention, and roadblocks by Egyptian authorities in their quest to highlight the plight of Palestinians. 

Some of them started arriving on Monday with others expected on Tuesday. 

The GMTG, a global solidarity movement where on Friday, thousands of citizens from over 50 countries mobilised in a peaceful, civic-led demonstration to “demand justice, humanity, and an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza”.

However, several South African delegates were among those who claimed they were intimidated and had their passports confiscated by Egyptian authorities at various checkpoints during their journey.

In a social media post over the weekend, former member of Parliament, and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, who was among the SA delegation in attendance, explained that they were not allowed to proceed and were held for over six hours.

In an interview on Monday, head of SA delegation, Basheerah Soomar, said about 50 South Africans were part of the GMTC, and that their experience in Egypt had been an 'unwelcoming one, as some had already found themselves being detained upon arrival at the airport'.

“They tried to detain as many people coming in, but they couldn't prove why.”

Sommar said that as soon as the embassy opened, she spoke to the secretaries and the ambassador, so that they would be aware that people were coming.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said: “Our embassy advised South African march participants that the area (near the crossing) was restricted and queried whether they had confirmation of authorisation from the authorities.

“This was not clear to the embassy during the initial engagements, and the participation proceeded.”

Phiri confirmed that full consular services were being rendered to citizens who came to Egypt.

Soomar said people were questioned at their hotels.

“Searching our phones and explicitly asking if we're joining the march. There was leaked info about which countries were staying where. They didn't take any South Africans into detention because they didn't have any evidence. We all prepared for that and cleared all our phones.”

Soomar said they also suspected being placed under surveillance.

“Every time we exited the hotel, we saw police. A lot of us were followed by people in plain clothing, but we knew that they were intelligence.”

Soomar claimed that passports had been confiscated.

 She said the experience has been frustrating, but “none of us have had time to process our emotions, as we're still in fight and flight mode”.

Despite the challenges, she said that the goal is to keep the focus on what is happening in Palestine.

“We just have to keep pushing like the Palestinians have been pushing for over a hundred years. We can't let it dishearten us...We'll use the lessons to mobilise again.”

Cape Times