Outcry over court papers served to UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese sparks political tensions

An outcry against the “unauthorised” serving of court papers against United Nations (UN) special rapporteur Francesca Albanese on the weekend has elicited fervent reactions from the African National Congress and international relations experts.

This comes after the Italian human rights lawyer, who on Saturday delivered the 23rd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at the Sandton Convention Centre, was served with court documents for her alleged antisemitic public statements.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) accused Albanese and the Nelson Mandela Foundation of antisemitic bias.

South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) National Director, Wendy Kahn stated:” The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) was once a symbol of unity, integrity, and reconciliation. Today, under the chairpersonship of Dr Naledi Pandor and the platforming of Francesca Albanese, it has become something else entirely, a stage for antisemitism disguised as human rights advocacy. Two women, both repeatedly accused of antisemitic bias, now stand together under the banner of the Mandela name, not to bring South Africans together, but to unite them in hate.”

Albanese's report titled “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide,” not only documents violations but also deconstructs the globalised capitalist system that transforms occupation into a profitable genocidal enterprise.

Reacting to the incident, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Department both slammed the "unauthorised" court papers served on United Nations (UN) special rapporteur Francesca Albanese on the weekend.

Albanese is also a victim of US sanctions, which were served against her in July with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi saying the South African sheriff who served Albanese with papers linked to a US lawsuit by pro-Israeli groups acted unlawfully.

Spokesperson for the department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), speaking on behalf of the minister revealed that the minister has instructed that this irregular service be withdrawn, so that’s the first step.

"The first step is for this service to be withdrawn, and the second step is around consequence management that the minister has instructed the acting DG to effect. So, the two actions, the withdrawal and the consequence management, will assist in addressing the matter.

"Minister Kubayi has also given the assurance that nothing will happen to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories during her visit to South Africa,” he said.

Speaking at the Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture, which she delivered in Johannesburg on Saturday, Albanese stated she does not want to comment on her personal issues, as they are not as important as the Palestinian cause.

“For the past two years, I have taken on and made enormous sacrifices, personal sacrifices, to keep me, my personal issues, my personal drama aside – and I’m here to speak about Palestine. I’m here as a special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the Occupied Palestinian Territories- and I would very much appreciate it if you asked me questions related to this, and on the rest, I have no comment,” she stated.

Meanwhile, ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri welcomed the minister's firm and decisive action by the minister stating: “The ANC commends the Minister for acting swiftly to withdraw the irregular process, issue a public apology to Ms. Albanese, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the United Nations, and for instructing internal consequence management to ensure accountability within the Department. This decisive action reaffirms South Africa’s principled stance on international law, justice, and solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine."