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'''Naledi Pandor''' (born Grace Naledi Mandisa Matthews; 7 December 1953) is a [[South Africa]]n politician, academic, and convert to [[Islam]], turned bigot, who served as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) from 2019 to 2024. She is widely regarded by organisations and the South African Jewish community as one of the most viciously anti-Israel and [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] figures in contemporary African politics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=South African Jewish Board of Deputies|date=2022-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/keffiyeh-clad-pandor-pins-colours-to-the-mast/|title=Keffiyeh-clad Pandor pins colours to the mast|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2022-07-28|author=Nicola Miltz}}</ref> Pandor spearheaded South Africa’s baseless 2023 “genocide” case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a move condemned as a propaganda gift to Hamas and diplomatic cover for terrorism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freebeacon.com/trump-administration/trump-admin-revokes-visa-from-south-african-official-who-spearheaded-genocide-case-against-israel/|title=Trump Admin Revokes Visa From South African Official Who Spearheaded ‘Genocide’ Case Against Israel|publisher=Washington Free Beacon|date=2025-11-21|author=Adam Kredo}}</ref> She has repeatedly glorified “jihad” and “armed struggle” against Israel, wished to fight “shoulder to shoulder” with Hamas militants in Gaza, and scoffed at Jewish concerns about antisemitism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04|author=Tali Feinberg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.memri.org/tv/south-africa-minister-intl-relations-naledi-pandor-countries-officials-fund-arm-israel-war-liable-prosecution-icc|title=South African Minister Naledi Pandor At Cape Town Mosque: “I wish I were shoulder to shoulder with the men and women in Rafah”|publisher=MEMRI|date=2024-05-28}}</ref> In November 2025 the Trump administration revoked her U.S. visa, citing her “open support for terrorism and endorsement of violent jihads.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freebeacon.com/trump-administration/trump-admin-revokes-visa-from-south-african-official-who-spearheaded-genocide-case-against-israel/|title=Trump Admin Revokes Visa From South African Official Who Spearheaded ‘Genocide’ Case Against Israel|publisher=Washington Free Beacon|date=2025-11-21|author=Adam Kredo}}</ref>
== Early life and education ==
Born in Durban to anti-apartheid activist Joe Matthews, Pandor spent part of her childhood in exile in Botswana, where she completed secondary education and later met her future husband, Sharif Pandor. She earned degrees from the University of Botswana and the University of Swaziland (now Eswatini) and advanced diplomas from Bryn Mawr College and Harvard Kennedy School.
== Conversion to Islam ==
In the 1970s Pandor converted to [[Islam]] upon marrying Sharif Pandor and adopted the name Nadia. Her faith has driven her increasingly radical anti-Israel activism, including wearing a "[[Palestinian]]" keffiyeh at official events and repeatedly invoking jihad as a legitimate response to Israel’s existence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/keffiyeh-clad-pandor-pins-colours-to-the-mast/|title=Keffiyeh-clad Pandor pins colours to the mast|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2022-07-28|author=Nicola Miltz}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04|author=Tali Feinberg}}</ref>
== Political career ==
Pandor held multiple cabinet portfolios under the [[ANC]] before becoming Minister of International Relations (2019–2024). She lost her parliamentary seat in the 2024 elections and now chairs the Nelson Mandela Foundation, an institution she has used to continue anti-Israel campaigning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/board-of-trustees|title=Board of Trustees|publisher=Nelson Mandela Foundation}}</ref>
== Antisemitism and dismissal of Jewish concerns ==
As early as July 2022, Pandor openly scoffed at [[Jewish]] fears of [[antisemitism]], stating she only mentioned the “two-state solution” to avoid being labelled antisemitic — thereby implying that accusations of antisemitism against critics of Israel are baseless and manipulative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=South African Jewish Board of Deputies|date=2022-07-27}}</ref> The South African Jewish Board of Deputies condemned her remarks as proof of “thorough-going bigotry” and an unwillingness even to consider the Israeli perspective.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=SAJBD|date=2022-07-27}}</ref>
== Anti-Israel activism and support for Hamas ==
Pandor telephoned [[Hamas]] leader [[Ismail Haniyeh]] days after the [[Swords of Iron|October 7, 2023]] massacres to express “solidarity,” refused to watch IDF footage of the atrocities, and refused to designate Hamas a terrorist organisation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/how-south-african-jews-feel-about-the-israel-genocide-ruling-pxh8r2vhx|title=South African Jews felt betrayed even before the UN genocide case|publisher=The Sunday Times (UK)|date=2024-01-28|author=Ivan Fallon}}</ref> She has hosted Hamas delegations in parliament and aligned South Africa with Iran and other state sponsors of terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-810815|title=Putin's mouthpiece, Iran's attack dog|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=2024-06-01}}</ref>
== ICJ “genocide” case ==
Pandor personally led South Africa’s December 2023 ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide — a case described by Jewish leaders and analysts as the most extreme anti-Israel action by any government outside the Middle East, leaving South Africa’s 50,000 Jews feeling betrayed and unsafe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/how-south-african-jews-feel-about-the-israel-genocide-ruling-pxh8r2vhx|title=South African Jews felt betrayed even before the UN genocide case|publisher=The Sunday Times (UK)|date=2024-01-28|author=Ivan Fallon}}</ref>
== Glorification of jihad and armed struggle ==
Pandor has repeatedly endorsed violent [[jihad]] against Israel:
* May 2024: At a Cape Town mosque, wearing a keffiyeh, she declared she wished to fight “shoulder to shoulder” with militants in Rafah and led cries of “Allahu Akbar.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.memri.org/tv/south-africa-minister-intl-relations-naledi-pandor-countries-officials-fund-arm-israel-war-liable-prosecution-icc|title=South African Minister Naledi Pandor At Cape Town Mosque|publisher=MEMRI|date=2024-05-28}}</ref>
* 23 August 2025: At a Langa Masjid fundraiser, she proclaimed that “we are permitted to engage in jihad when necessary” and urged young Muslims to become “true activists” in defence of threatened Islamic values — statements widely seen as incitement against Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04|author=Tali Feinberg}}</ref>
* She has claimed Israel has been an “apartheid state” since 1948 and that its “genocide” began on 8 October 2023 — the day Israel was still rescuing its own citizens from Hamas invaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04}}</ref>
== U.S. visa revocation ==
On 21 November 2025 the [[Trump]] administration revoked Pandor’s visa, explicitly citing her “open support for terrorism and endorsement of violent jihads,” preventing her from entering the United States to speak at an anti-Israel event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freebeacon.com/trump-administration/trump-admin-revokes-visa-from-south-african-official-who-spearheaded-genocide-case-against-israel/|title=Trump Admin Revokes Visa From South African Official Who Spearheaded ‘Genocide’ Case Against Israel|publisher=Washington Free Beacon|date=2025-11-21|author=Adam Kredo}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
Pandor is viewed by the South African Jewish community and activists worldwide as a dangerous antisemitic extremist who abused high office to mainstream support for Hamas terrorism and calls for violent jihad against the Jewish state. Her actions have severely damaged South Africa’s international reputation and left many South African Jews questioning whether the country remains a safe home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/how-south-african-jews-feel-about-the-israel-genocide-ruling-pxh8r2vhx|title=South African Jews felt betrayed even before the UN genocide case|publisher=The Sunday Times (UK)|date=2024-01-28|author=Ivan Fallon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=SAJBD|date=2022-07-27}}</ref>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandor, Naledi}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African Muslims]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam from Christianity]]
[[Category:African National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Critics of Israel]]
[[Category:Anti-Zionism in South Africa]]
[[Category:People whose U.S. visas have been revoked]]
== Early life and education ==
Born in Durban to anti-apartheid activist Joe Matthews, Pandor spent part of her childhood in exile in Botswana, where she completed secondary education and later met her future husband, Sharif Pandor. She earned degrees from the University of Botswana and the University of Swaziland (now Eswatini) and advanced diplomas from Bryn Mawr College and Harvard Kennedy School.
== Conversion to Islam ==
In the 1970s Pandor converted to [[Islam]] upon marrying Sharif Pandor and adopted the name Nadia. Her faith has driven her increasingly radical anti-Israel activism, including wearing a "[[Palestinian]]" keffiyeh at official events and repeatedly invoking jihad as a legitimate response to Israel’s existence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/keffiyeh-clad-pandor-pins-colours-to-the-mast/|title=Keffiyeh-clad Pandor pins colours to the mast|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2022-07-28|author=Nicola Miltz}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04|author=Tali Feinberg}}</ref>
== Political career ==
Pandor held multiple cabinet portfolios under the [[ANC]] before becoming Minister of International Relations (2019–2024). She lost her parliamentary seat in the 2024 elections and now chairs the Nelson Mandela Foundation, an institution she has used to continue anti-Israel campaigning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/board-of-trustees|title=Board of Trustees|publisher=Nelson Mandela Foundation}}</ref>
== Antisemitism and dismissal of Jewish concerns ==
As early as July 2022, Pandor openly scoffed at [[Jewish]] fears of [[antisemitism]], stating she only mentioned the “two-state solution” to avoid being labelled antisemitic — thereby implying that accusations of antisemitism against critics of Israel are baseless and manipulative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=South African Jewish Board of Deputies|date=2022-07-27}}</ref> The South African Jewish Board of Deputies condemned her remarks as proof of “thorough-going bigotry” and an unwillingness even to consider the Israeli perspective.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=SAJBD|date=2022-07-27}}</ref>
== Anti-Israel activism and support for Hamas ==
Pandor telephoned [[Hamas]] leader [[Ismail Haniyeh]] days after the [[Swords of Iron|October 7, 2023]] massacres to express “solidarity,” refused to watch IDF footage of the atrocities, and refused to designate Hamas a terrorist organisation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/how-south-african-jews-feel-about-the-israel-genocide-ruling-pxh8r2vhx|title=South African Jews felt betrayed even before the UN genocide case|publisher=The Sunday Times (UK)|date=2024-01-28|author=Ivan Fallon}}</ref> She has hosted Hamas delegations in parliament and aligned South Africa with Iran and other state sponsors of terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-810815|title=Putin's mouthpiece, Iran's attack dog|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=2024-06-01}}</ref>
== ICJ “genocide” case ==
Pandor personally led South Africa’s December 2023 ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide — a case described by Jewish leaders and analysts as the most extreme anti-Israel action by any government outside the Middle East, leaving South Africa’s 50,000 Jews feeling betrayed and unsafe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/how-south-african-jews-feel-about-the-israel-genocide-ruling-pxh8r2vhx|title=South African Jews felt betrayed even before the UN genocide case|publisher=The Sunday Times (UK)|date=2024-01-28|author=Ivan Fallon}}</ref>
== Glorification of jihad and armed struggle ==
Pandor has repeatedly endorsed violent [[jihad]] against Israel:
* May 2024: At a Cape Town mosque, wearing a keffiyeh, she declared she wished to fight “shoulder to shoulder” with militants in Rafah and led cries of “Allahu Akbar.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.memri.org/tv/south-africa-minister-intl-relations-naledi-pandor-countries-officials-fund-arm-israel-war-liable-prosecution-icc|title=South African Minister Naledi Pandor At Cape Town Mosque|publisher=MEMRI|date=2024-05-28}}</ref>
* 23 August 2025: At a Langa Masjid fundraiser, she proclaimed that “we are permitted to engage in jihad when necessary” and urged young Muslims to become “true activists” in defence of threatened Islamic values — statements widely seen as incitement against Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04|author=Tali Feinberg}}</ref>
* She has claimed Israel has been an “apartheid state” since 1948 and that its “genocide” began on 8 October 2023 — the day Israel was still rescuing its own citizens from Hamas invaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/pandor-justifies-jihad-as-sometimes-necessary/|title=Pandor justifies jihad as sometimes ‘necessary’|publisher=SA Jewish Report|date=2025-09-04}}</ref>
== U.S. visa revocation ==
On 21 November 2025 the [[Trump]] administration revoked Pandor’s visa, explicitly citing her “open support for terrorism and endorsement of violent jihads,” preventing her from entering the United States to speak at an anti-Israel event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freebeacon.com/trump-administration/trump-admin-revokes-visa-from-south-african-official-who-spearheaded-genocide-case-against-israel/|title=Trump Admin Revokes Visa From South African Official Who Spearheaded ‘Genocide’ Case Against Israel|publisher=Washington Free Beacon|date=2025-11-21|author=Adam Kredo}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
Pandor is viewed by the South African Jewish community and activists worldwide as a dangerous antisemitic extremist who abused high office to mainstream support for Hamas terrorism and calls for violent jihad against the Jewish state. Her actions have severely damaged South Africa’s international reputation and left many South African Jews questioning whether the country remains a safe home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/how-south-african-jews-feel-about-the-israel-genocide-ruling-pxh8r2vhx|title=South African Jews felt betrayed even before the UN genocide case|publisher=The Sunday Times (UK)|date=2024-01-28|author=Ivan Fallon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=media/dirco-minister-naledi-pandor-reveals-her-true-colours-scoffing-at-jewish-concerns-over-antisemitism|title=DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor reveals her true colours scoffing at Jewish concerns over antisemitism|publisher=SAJBD|date=2022-07-27}}</ref>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandor, Naledi}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African Muslims]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam from Christianity]]
[[Category:African National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Critics of Israel]]
[[Category:Anti-Zionism in South Africa]]
[[Category:People whose U.S. visas have been revoked]]