British journalist Yvonne Ridley has warned that the Western Cape could become a new outpost of Zionist settler colonialism during a fiery media briefing held in Cape Town this week.
She appeared alongside former British MP George Galloway at the Bo-Kaap Cultural Hub on Wednesday, September 30. The pair urged voters to scrutinise political candidates, their funders and any Zionist links.
Knotweed Warning For Voters
Ridley compared the growth of Zionism in the province to Japanese knotweed, an aggressively invasive plant with a powerful underground root system that damages buildings, ruins landscapes and resists easy removal.
“There is evidence of very strong Zionist roots in the Western Cape, and we have seen the way that Zionists have colonised the Middle East.
“Be aware that that project has failed. They will be looking to punt themselves elsewhere,” she said.
She cautioned voters to be wary of political candidates, who funds them and whether they have Zionist links.
Her remarks framed local politics as a new front in a much wider global contest.
Galloway Draws Line Between Faith And Ideology
Galloway told the briefing that Zionism and the Jewish religion were completely different and did not belong together.
He described Zionism as an ideology focused on taking over land, building an empire and favouring one group of people over another based on race or background.
The pair, co-founders of the Stop the War Coalition, addressed the genocide in Gaza, colonialism, international law and the implications for South Africa in a shifting global landscape.
Ridley also spoke on censorship and the role of the media in shaping public understanding of conflict and human rights.
Both speakers have long been prominent voices in pro Palestinian activism in Britain.
Coal Exports Ignite Hypocrisy Claims
South African coal exports to Israel have triggered significant domestic controversy and protests led by activists such as Yusuf Chikte, coordinator of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Chikte coordinated the briefing together with the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association.
Activists and the SA BDS Coalition accuse the government of double standards and hypocrisy.
Journalists pressed the speakers on the contradiction of taking Israel to the International Court of Justice while coal keeps flowing to its ports.
Ridley, who comes from a mining town, said she would be the first to lie down and block any truck leaving to export the coal, describing words as the tinder of a fire that moves people to act.
The coal question has become a rallying point for campaigners who see trade policy as the true test of solidarity.
Badge Of Honour Claim
The tour comes as South Africa’s case alleging violations of the Genocide Convention remains pending before the ICJ, placing the country and its allies at the centre of a global debate.
Galloway said South Africa had captured the world’s attention through its liberation from apartheid and its role in seeking to liberate Palestine, as Mandela promised.
“Israel has responded through its proxy, which is the United States of America,” he said.
“The threats and actions that the US government has leveled against South Africa is a badge of honour for you.”
South Africa has faced mounting pressure from Washington since filing the case.
Fingernail Drama At London Airport
Galloway asked his wife to show the audience her fingernail painted in Palestinian flag colours, which he said led to her being grilled by London airport police.
He said she was not arrested during the encounter.
“but under the Terrorism Act – you are neither under arrest nor are you free to leave”
The anecdote was offered as an illustration of how visible solidarity is policed in Britain.
Mass March Set For Mouille Point
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign will host a mass march for Palestine with Galloway and Ridley as guest speakers.
The gathering is set for the Mouille Point Lighthouse on Saturday, October 3 at 2.30pm.
Cape Town has hosted several pro Palestinian gatherings in recent months, reflecting the depth of local activism.
The event caps a visit that has placed the city at the centre of the pair’s message.