DA, Al Jama-ah have heated exchange about cost of SA-Israel genocide case

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Al Jama-ah political party had a heated exchange on Wednesday about the cost of South Africa's case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola briefed Parliament's portfolio committees on International Relations and Cooperation and Justice on South Africa's case to find Israel guilty of contravening the Genocide Convention.

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During the briefing, the DA questioned national government spending more than R130 million on the case, saying the money could have been better spent.

The DA’s representative in Parliament's portfolio committees on International Relations and Cooperation, Ryan Smith, questioned the cost of South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ.

The National Treasury has so far allocated more than R130 million to cover the cost of the case.

"What is the cost of the ICJ for South Africa? Because it does come with a cost for the people of this country."

Al Jama-ah's Imraan Moosa said it's a matter of principle.

"We need to understand that saving lives and stopping the genocide doesn't have a price and that's a reality globally."

Lamola said the government will see the case through to its conclusion.