(Johannesburg, South Africa -- October 21, 2021) -- On the 21th October 2021, 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 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.”
ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL:
The South African Friends of Israel (SAFI) was established to go out and evaluate the possibility of engaging with other faith, cultural and ethnic groups in the interests of building a broader grassroots support base for Israel in South Africa.
In doing that, SAFI is at the forefront of making a difference for Israel and global Jewry by fighting and mitigating the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement) and other delegitimisation campaigns. Together, we are creating a united coalition that stands against misinformation and promotes positive connections with Israel.
ABOUT STANDWITHUS:
StandWithUs (SWU) is an international, non-profit and non-partisan Israel education organization that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism.
Through university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films and missions to Israel, StandWithUs supports people around the world who want to educate their schools and communities about Israel.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and programs on 5 continents, including the U.S., Israel, UK, Canada, South Africa and Brazil.
For the last 9 years, SWU has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator (4 stars) and Guidestar (Platinum).
