(Johannesburg, South Africa) -- On the 21st of October, three billboards were placed on the major highways in Sandton, Kempton Park and Germiston, in Johannesburg, South Africa showcasing the impact that Israeli water, innovation, technology, and job creation has had on the well-being of South Africans. One billboard shows Former President Nelson Mandela’s positive and supportive stance towards Israel. The billboards will be up for three months. They were also placed to counter the anti-Israel billboard in Soweto.
The campaign has been organised by South African Friends of Israel (SAFI), which promotes dialogue between the Jewish and broader South African community to combat the antisemitic BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, and StandWithUs, an international organisation that fights antisemitism and educates about Israel.
One billboard states, “Fresh Water Made From Thin Air, Invented in Israel and Benefitting South Africans” and the other says, “Israeli Innovations Create Jobs in SA.” This is in reference to various Israeli technologies in the water sector which are benefitting South Africans. This includes “Water-Gen” that produces water from the air, or the drinking water supply from the Setumo Dam in the North West province that was restored due to Israeli technology. More than half a million South Africans have benefited from this intervention as the water was unusable previously. To learn more about how Israeli tech and innovations are helping South Africans and also creating jobs visit: www.israelforsa.com.
Nelson Mandela’s famous quote “We Insist on Israel’s Right to Exist” is highlighted on his billboard. Mandela’s legacy of support for the state of Israel has constantly been hijacked in South Africa to promote hateful extremist organisations. This billboard will go a long way in correcting that misconception, which has of late been propagated in anti-Israel public messaging. To find out more, visit www.mandelaisrael.com.
Rowan Polovin, National Chairman of the South African Zionist Federation, said, “We are excited that tens of thousands of South Africans using Johannesburg’s major highways will learn of Israel’s positive impact on South Africa on their way to work, school, or homes. Israel is working with South Africa every day and these billboards and campaigns around them will bring the message home.”
Roz Rothstein, CEO and co-founder of StandWithUs stated, “We are delighted to partner with the South African Friends of Israel to help set the record straight about Nelson Mandela’s relationship with Israel and the Jewish people as well as to promote a sense of pride and partnership between South Africans and Israelis.”
