“Freedom Is Indivisible — Mandela Foundation Fires Back for Palestine
Freedom Is Indivisible — Mandela Foundation Fires Back for Palestine
The 23rd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at the Sandton Convention Centre became more than a ceremony — it became a confrontation with power. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, delivered a bold call for justice that linked the Palestinian struggle to South Africa’s own fight against apartheid.
“Justice is indivisible,” Albanese declared. “Solidarity in struggles for justice is the political expression of love.”
Her words struck deep — naming the global financial and political forces that fuel oppression from Gaza to the Congo. But as the Nelson Mandela Foundation prepared for post-event engagements, the message was disrupted: members of Christians for Israel USA attempted to serve court papers on Albanese for alleged defamation.
The Foundation later confirmed the service was irregular, with South Africa’s Department of Justice apologising to Albanese, the UN, and the Foundation. Yet the attempt only amplified her message — proof that truth makes the powerful tremble.
Naledi Pandor: Standing Firm With Palestine
Chair of the Foundation and Minister Naledi Pandor used the platform to remind the world that Madiba’s legacy cannot exist in silence. She reaffirmed South Africa’s solidarity with Palestine, insisting that the struggle for freedom anywhere is inseparable from the struggle everywhere.
“Freedom is indivisible,” Pandor told the audience. “The denial of one people’s rights diminishes the freedom of all.”
A Legacy of Defiance
In a world where truth-tellers are served with lawsuits instead of respect, the Foundation’s stand was an act of defiance. It reasserted South Africa’s moral voice — loud, uncomfortable, and necessary. Mandela’s platform has once again done what he intended it to do: provoke, challenge, and awaken.
The message was clear — freedom cannot be negotiated. Not for Palestine, not for anyone.
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