Non-government organisations (NGOs) have condemned Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s attack on the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF), calling on him to withdraw his statement and apologise to the foundation.

Freedom Under Law, Section27, Defend Our Democracy Campaign, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, SERI and Corruption Watch said Motsoaledi had, unjustifiably issued “the most outrageous” public statement vilifying the HSF.

This comes after the HSF challenged Motsoaledi’s decision to terminate the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits at the end of the year.

He hit back by stating that South Africa was under the dictatorship of some NGOs, taking specific aim at the HSF by accusing it of racism.

NGOs are now calling on the minister to apologise for impugning the HSF’s integrity and patriotism. 

“Essentially HSF asks that the minister reconsider a decision he took some time ago terminating, with effect from the end of this year, a special dispensation whereby people and their families have for more than a decade been allowed to live in South Africa,” the NGOs said.

The NGOs explained that HSF was not advocating for Zimbabweans to remain here. It was merely submitting that there was no adequate consultation with interested parties before the decision was made. HSF urged the minister to undertake the necessary consultation and then reconsider the issue.

“It would be wrong for us to express any opinion on the merits of the HSF case, but it is both grossly improper and unconstitutional for the minister to insult, threaten and attempt to intimidate the HSF. In our country, court cases are determined on their merits in duly constituted courts, not by public declarations,” the NGOs said.

It said while Motsoaledi’s threats and innuendos are ominous, they were not unprecedented.

“The undersigned representatives of civil society record their rejection of this crude attempt to subvert the Rule of Law. We call on the minister to withdraw his statement and apologise to the Helen Suzman Foundation,” it said.