University of Cape Town SRC endorses boycott of Israel, declares it an apartheid state

The University of Cape Town’s Student Representative Council (UCT SRC) has backed a call to boycott Israeli produce, and “unconditionally” declared Israel an Apartheid state.

The memorandum tabled by the UCT Palestine Solidarity Forum on 4 August, also calls for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa, the withdrawal of the South African ambassador to Israel and the ending of trade ties between the two countries.

It also endorsed specific actions, such as the boycott of security company G4S, which is currently contracted by UCT. G4S provides security services and equipment to Israeli prisons, checkpoints, the separation wall and the Israeli military and police.

UCT SRC’s statement also strongly condemned anti-Semitism and religious intolerance of any kind.

The decision follows a similar move by the University of the Witwatersrand SRC in 2013 to adopt a full academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

Earlier this month, a petition condemning Israel’s ongoing violence in Gaza was signed by more than 300 members of Rhodes University including the university’s vice-chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela.