Israeli-Palestinian Tension Escalates in South African Courts; Hate Speech Case Targets Ju

Mehmet Vefa Dag arrived at the Western Cape High Court on 25 August chanting “Death to Israel” and telling the presiding judge he was there to “free Palestine.” The hearing had barely begun.

Dag, a Turkish-born South African citizen since 2006, faces charges of antisemitic hate speech brought by the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD). Instead of engaging with those proceedings, he directed a verbal assault at Judge Nontuthuzelo Elizabeth Ralarala, accusing her of ordering his “unjust” imprisonment in a separate contempt of court matter and claiming she had incarcerated him at Pollsmoor Prison without trial.

The day before the hearing, Dag had posted an image of Ralarala on social media stating she had “unjustly incarcerated me in Pollsmoor last year without a trial” and declaring “We will ensure that this judge’s tenure comes to an end. This unacceptable behaviour must lead to her resignation from the court.” He later deleted the post.

In court, Dag yelled that Ralarala was responsible for him being “almost murdered” in prison. When she corrected him, explaining she had not been the judge in that case, he responded that all African women look similar, which explained his confusion. Ralarala noted she was grateful the media were present to document the remark.

The Cape SAJBD filed the underlying case in 2024, alleging a sustained campaign of antisemitic hate speech across social media platforms. The summons details statements Dag posted in July 2024 alone: “Jews have ruined SA”; “Jews are looting SA”; “Jews are dogs, they should be burned”; and “One hundred thousand Jews control the entire economy of South Africa.”

The organisation’s legal filing contends that his statements demand Jews “be killed, harmed, or otherwise suffer reprisals” and describe Jewish people as “illicitly, by force, and without consent, kidnapping the children of non-Jewish people.” Additional allegations characterize Jewish people as “evil, morally corrupt, and wicked” and claim they “furtively use money, power, and influence to further their own interests and undermine the interests of others.” Dag has also publicly denied the Holocaust, stating that “Jewish people fabricated the Holocaust to pursue their own interests.”

On 2 August 2024, he posted: “Jews, your ancestors came to this country [South Africa] as refugees and robbed the whole country. Now take your bags and go to Israel. Don’t let me lose my coolers.” The Cape SAJBD argues such statements “could reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to be harmful or incite harm and to promote or propagate hate.”

Before the hearing, Dag had written on social media that he would “use this legal process to place his position before the court and to defend the principles of justice, equality, accountability and freedom of expression.” On 19 June, he tweeted: “Israeli settlers must leave South Africa on 25 August 2026 [the date of the hearing]. We are shutting down the Western Cape High Court.”

At the court, Dag told the SA Jewish Report that Israel belongs to the Ottoman empire and he aims to return it to “Ottoman” rule and remove its current inhabitants. He demanded that Jewish families like “the Oppenheimers” “go to hell!” and declared: “You [Jews] only know one thing: you know how to loot, you know corruption, and you stole land of [the] black man!”

Dag requested a postponement, claiming his lawyer had withdrawn representation the day before. Ralarala granted a shorter delay than he sought, scheduling a new hearing for 2 November and ordering him to submit a formal application explaining the postponement request by mid-September.

Daniel Bloch, Cape SAJBD executive director, addressed both the courtroom conduct and the broader case. “We noted with deep concern the racist and accusatory remarks directed at Judge Ralarala, which she handled with remarkable composure, dignity, and restraint befitting her office,” Bloch said. “Judicial officers must be able to perform their duties without being subjected to racist or personal attacks.”

Bloch was equally direct about the case’s scope: “It is important to emphasise that these proceedings concern allegations of antisemitic hate speech and conduct directed at Jews; they are not proceedings about the Middle East conflict or the merits of any particular political position.”

The Cape SAJBD is seeking a court declaration that Dag’s statements constitute hate speech, an unconditional apology to the South African Jewish community, a R25,000 donation to the Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre, and payment of legal costs.

Dag, who identifies as “president of the Truth and Solidarity Movement” and claims to be a mayoral candidate in coming municipal elections, arrived with supporters who addressed him as “President Dag” or “Mr President.” He claimed his grandmother was born a Jew in British Mandate Palestine, though he could not explain why he opposes Jews living in Israel. One supporter told the SA Jewish Report: “We don’t have a problem with Torah Jews, only Zionists.”

Bloch said the Cape SAJBD remains committed to the case. “We remain confident in the merits of the case and will allow the legal process to run its course.” Whether Dag will secure new legal representation before the November hearing remains to be seen.