South Africa: Durban mayoral candidate says he would welcome Netanyahu despite ICC warrant

What Happened

During a mayoral debate in Durban, Democratic Alliance candidate for eThekwini mayor Haniff Hoosen said he would welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if a visit would benefit the city. Hoosen, 54, answered 'Why shouldn't I if he comes to visit the city?' and added that if there is a benefit for the people of the city through that visit, he would certainly do it, citing Durban's deterioration. He stood by the remarks after the debate, saying he speaks 'the truth' and people will know what to expect. The comments drew outrage because the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, and South Africa is a party to the Rome Statute obligated to cooperate with the ICC. The article states more than 250,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured in Gaza and notes that a UN Commission of Inquiry chaired by Navi Pillay declared Israel committed genocide.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Hoosen's comments expose a fissure between local South African electoral politics and the country's international legal obligations and foreign policy. With eThekwini voters frustrated by water shortages, sewage spills, crime, and infrastructure decay, a candidate's willingness to prioritize immediate municipal benefit over ICC cooperation may resonate locally, but it directly contradicts South Africa's Rome Statute commitments and its ICJ case against Israel. The episode also highlights divisions within the Democratic Alliance and broader South African debate over Israel, especially two weeks after Navi Pillay's Nobel Peace Prize and her UN commission's genocide finding.

Watch For

South Africa's local government elections on 4 November, including whether Hoosen's comments affect the eThekwini race or whether DA leadership distances itself from him. Also monitor any reaction from the South African government, the ICC, or civil society groups regarding a potential breach of Rome Statute obligations, and whether Netanyahu's travel or extradition scenarios become a campaign issue.