As the shockwaves of October 7, 2023, continue to reverberate globally, South Africa has more visibly anchored its solidarity with Palestine—turning trauma into foreign-policy purpose and public momentum. What started as international outcry has evolved into a redefinition of SA’s posture: from the corridors of The Hague to the sidewalks of Johannesburg, the Gaza–October 7–South Africa link is shaping a long arc of justice.
SA’s Strategic Move at the ICJ: Memorial Submitted, Diplomatic Pressure Amplified
On 28 October 2024, South Africa filed its Memorial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), submitting a detailed legal claim accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. According to the SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the submission is built on some 750 pages of main text and over 4,000 pages of annexes and exhibits. DIRCO’s statement on the filing explains how the evidence seeks to show deliberate destruction through deprivation, forced displacement, denial of humanitarian aid, and disregard of provisional ICJ orders.
South Africa initially lodged its case under the Genocide Convention on 29 December 2023. In January 2024, the ICJ granted provisional measures—binding on Israel—that include obligations to prevent acts covered by the Convention, allow humanitarian access, preserve evidence, and report on compliance. While the ICJ did not order a ceasefire, the provisional orders mark a legal threshold: the Court found prima facie jurisdiction and plausibility in South Africa’s claims.
In April 2025, the Court extended Israel’s time to file its counter-memorial, signaling continuing procedural momentum in the case. Meanwhile, in July 2025, Brazil announced its intent to join the proceedings—adding regional heft to SA’s legal front. To date, some 14 nations have filed declarations of intent or intervention under ICJ procedural rules.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has framed this not simply as legal theatre but moral duty. At an October 7 commemoration in 2024, he decried the “onslaught” that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, pledging additional evidence to reinforce South Africa’s position. As the ICJ process now eyes a merits phase possibly in 2026, South Africa’s role is steadily shifting from complainant to conscience-keeper in the Gaza–Israel legal saga.
Flotilla & Freedom: Mandela’s Kin and the Global Sumud Voyage
In early October 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla—carrying humanitarian aid—was intercepted by Israeli forces. Among the 171 detained was Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, who had joined the mission as a visible advocate for Gaza. He and many others, including prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg, were detained or deported, stirring acute public and diplomatic backlash.
South Africa’s government swiftly condemned the interception as unlawful “abduction in international waters,” demanding immediate release. By week’s end, detained South African activists—including Mandela’s kin—were confirmed freed and repatriated. Their accounts of mistreatment reignited national outrage and underscored themes of resistance inherited from our own anti-apartheid fight. In cities across South Africa, welcoming rallies blended relief with renewed calls for accountability—linking domestic memory and global solidarity.
BDS Resurgence: From Store Shelves to Strategy
October 7 has catalysed a fresh wave of BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) activism in South Africa—one that taps directly into the country’s anti-apartheid legacy. The SA BDS Coalition, active since 2005, has since ramped up pressure: supermarkets delist Israeli produce, universities review investments, and consumers opt for Palestinian-aligned or locally rooted alternatives. Post-October 7, boycott campaigns targeting brands like McDonald’s and Puma intensified, with several high-profile pickets and divestment pledges.
On the ground, this is not symbolic politics—it is lived transformation. In townships and city centres, solidarity extends to everyday purchase decisions: skipping a soda, choosing local over global, treating South Africa’s struggle and Palestine’s as intertwined. As one Johannesburg organizer put it, “Every skipped soda is a step toward freeing Gaza.” This ground-level surge gives texture and urgency to SA’s ICJ strategy.
Marches, Meals & Memory: Protests as Potlucks
In Johannesburg, October solidarity is punctuated by marches, megaphones, and community iftars. The Palestine Solidarity Alliance’s annual Walk for Freedom (held October 5, 2025) wound through Lenasia, later evolving into communal dinners. What begin as rallies often segue into shared meals—especially during Ramadan’s nights. In March 2024, on Human Rights Day, hundreds gathered under the stars at a mass iftar: biryani and bobotie served as vessels of conversation, memory, and belonging.
These events are inclusive by design: Muslims, Christians, and secular activists all break bread together. Extended by Africa4Palestine’s tent projects and solidarity programming, they bridge the gap between protest and presence. In the wake of October 7, these quiet, sustained acts affirm that solidarity is not a slogan—it’s a practice, a ritual woven into daily life.
October 7’s Legacy: A Flame Still Burning
One year—or now nearly two—after October 7, the Gaza–October 7–South Africa nexus is taking shape as a new chapter in our political memory. Ramaphosa’s moral framing, SA’s legal maneuvers at The Hague, the flotilla freedom fight, BDS momentum, and community iftars together create a mosaic of defiance. Grounded in South Africa’s own history of struggle, this stand against injustice in Gaza is far from a momentary surge—it is foundational.
As global eyes turn to The Hague, South Africa’s message is quiet but piercing: remember, resist, repeat. In homes, streets, and courts, our everyday solidarity ensures that Palestine’s narrative—and possibility—unfolds here with purpose.