The South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Coalition has called on the government to immediately halt coal exports to Israel, citing the country’s international legal obligations. The coalition argues that continued shipments contribute directly to Israel’s coal-powered electricity amid the ongoing aggression in Gaza.
Speaking to VOC News, coalition spokesperson Roshan Dadoo said, “It’s private companies that buy and sell the coal. We know that Glencore is one of the largest coal exporters from South Africa. In fact, they were also the main exporter of coal from Colombia before Colombia declared a coal embargo. But governments have the responsibility, as the Colombian government has shown, to regulate their exports. It’s not impossible.”
Dadoo urged the Trade, Industry, and Competition Ministry to act, highlighting existing legislation that allows the minister to regulate export permits. “We’re asking the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to look at [this legislation], which gives him the authority to make decisions around export permits to countries that are in conflict, where it’s clearly not in our national interest or going to fuel genocide in particular, given that South Africa took the case against Israel at the ICJ under the Genocide Convention,” she said.
The coalition emphasises that restricting coal exports would hold Israel accountable while protecting South Africa’s economic interests.
VOC News
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