Ahead of a debate in Parliament this afternoon on the implications for South Africa of the crisis in the Middle East, Marie Sukers former Member of Parliament and founder of Voice to Parliament penned some thoughts on the need and opportunity for the Church in SA to be a prophetic voice to mobilise GNU parties to challenge the ANC’s exclusive grip on the International Relations/Foreign Affairs portfolio. The debate, which was wound up as Gateway News was posting Sukers’ message, was proposed by Mmusi Maimane MP and leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA)
Today, as Parliament debates the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, it is important for Christians to be sober in understanding what we should be praying and advocating for as South Africans.
South Africa, following the 2024 elections, is governed by a Government of National Unity (GNU). No party was given the majority mandate to govern, and yet the ANC has exclusively claimed the International Relations and Cooperation/Foreign Affairs portfolio. This is a serious matter for prayer: pray that the GNU partners will take a united strong position to oppose the ANC on their current disastrous policy position in the Middle East and with the United States of America.
The first responsibility of any government is to protect the national interest of their own people and country. The ANC, in their continuos support for rogue and despotic regimes, can be likened to a steam train without breaks, barrelling down the tracks causing great harm. The attitude of the ANC is reckless and dangerous for our national interest. And the ANC seems prepared to gamble at great risk to our economic interest and credibility as a nation.
There is no rationale for the economic risks the ANC is taking with our foreign policy position. There is no justification, morally, to ignore the terror both Hamas and Iran pose to the world and impose on their own citizens. The hard truth is that the ANC exposed their ideological position that is anti-West, and in opposition to the beliefs of most South Africans.
The ANC willfully ignores the hard reality of their allies resembling the apartheid government — in violent oppression and suppression of dissenting voices. The mission of the radical Islamic regime cannot be tied to any constitutional values that our nation adopted in the form of our Constitution. So, contrary to the passionate declarations of the ANC, there is a fundamental difference between democratic South Africa and the radical Islamic Republic of Iran (and their proxies). The majority of South Africans hold firm to Judeo-Christian beliefs and values. The claim of similarity or friendship with a radical Islamic movement is a gross misunderstanding of who we are as a people. This is the most concerning aspect of the ANC’s position: it seems to have adopted an ideological position at complete odds with our values as a nation and our constitutional democracy.
The Church, as the prophetic voice to government, should, in prayer, petition that the DA and all GNU partners oppose the ANC in the strongest terms to change the current policy direction that is disastrous to our nation. We should rally all Christian bodies and organisations to oppose, through civil action, the position of the government that is reckless and immoral in its ignorance of the atrocities committed by both Hamas and Iran.
The Middle East needs champions to advance the principles of reconciliation and dialogue as a platform for peace. The ANC-led government missed an opportunity to play a positive role in this conflict and rather became a protagonist, and may even be viewed as the legal arm of Hamas in the war with Israel.
Our nation, as a majority-Christian nation, has strong spiritual ties with Israel that cannot be ignored, and is uniquely positioned to be part of peace initiatives, given our own history.
We should demand accountability and answers from government on the 300 Palestinians that entered the country, without proper vetting. Fikile Mbalula’s announcement that SA would support Palestinians should be qualified by government on what it means in terms of: who are the people given refugee status? And how are we to know that combatants and radical extremists are not given safe haven in our country?
SA is at a cross roads politically that demands civic responsibility to reclaim our nation. We should pray for boldness, unity, and clear focus for all leaders, but particularly that God will help us to choose strong, wise leaders in the 2026 Local Government Election and the National Election in 2029.
POSTSCRIPT
Commenting at the conclusion of today’s debate Marie Sukers said: “The DA, ACDP and FF Plus stood strongly against the ANC’s ideological position, and their international foreign policy in the Middle East. BOSA sponsored the debate and made strong arguments that the interests of SA should be foremost. The DA’s position is one that is bold, clear and consistent on diplomacy, economy and in strong opposition to the illogical and hypocritical, “schizophrenic” position of the ANC. The DA highlights our economy, and their position is important to pay attention to, given that they are the second-largest party in the GNU. They really presented a strong, balanced and logical argument covering ideology, values, economic and diplomatic policy that promotes the interest of SA.
The ANC closed the debate with a confused reiteration of their position as ‘principled, non aligned, in support of national sovereignty’ (citing Ukraine, Eastern DRC) and championing for dialogue. They speak out of two mouths
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