A top South African rabbi has criticized the government's "support" of Hamas, urging the US to stop "bad actors" on the continent.

Dr. Warren Goldstein, South Africa's chief rabbi, reveals that the country has aligned itself with "bad actors" Russia, China, and Iran, as the U.S. faces a crisis of influence in Africa.

On Monday in Johannesburg, Goldstein spoke with Planet Chronicle Digital about the upcoming presidential election in South Africa, which is expected to be a turning point in the country's history. Thirty years ago, the ANC Party came to power, bringing Nelson Mandela to become the first democratic president. Despite remarkable achievements, corruption, nepotism, unfulfilled government promises, and fraud-linked power blackouts have left democracy in a critical state and left many voters disillusioned. In Wednesday's polls, the ANC is likely to lose its majority for the first time.

As democracies in Africa decline, unlikely allies emerge from the shadows.

Goldstein stated that the African continent is facing a wave of jihadi terror, with Christians being persecuted across the continent. In this context, South Africa, in particular, and the African continent as a whole, can serve as a beacon and an important ally for the United States in promoting freedom and democracy.

The African continent is crucial to upholding American values, and a stronger American presence is necessary, particularly in South Africa.

The State Department spokesperson assured Planet Chronicle Digital that the relationship between the US and South Africa is built on shared values and interests, and that the US is committed to working with South Africa to address their respective priorities.

The spokesperson stated that the United States supports South Africa's sovereignty and the right to choose its own associations. The relationship between the two countries is complex and multifaceted, based on shared values, interests, and people-to-people ties. The United States aims to strengthen this relationship for the benefit of both nations, without being influenced by the actions of others.

The ANC government has been accused by analysts of being influenced by the ruling party, which has a majority until Wednesday, to dictate what the South African government should do and say. According to Goldstein, this has caused the country to turn away from the West. It is important to note that the values of the ANC government and the South African people are different.

"The ANC government has aligned itself with Russia, China, and Iran, despite the South African people not sharing their values. This is significant because it marks the first time in South African history that the ANC will drop below 50% in electoral votes."

"The ANC government is no longer a dominant force in South African politics, and therefore, when America is considering alliances with South Africa, it should look beyond the ANC government."

The South African government responded to Goldstein's criticism, stating that it is incorrect to associate the South African government with a political party, as Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy at South Africa's Department of International Relations, explained to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"The state, not the ruling party, makes decisions, Monyela stated. The government's values are shared by the people it represents, and the constitution of the Republic serves as a guide."

The ANC positions its loyal cadres in influential government positions, as stated by the Democratic Alliance (DA). The ANC refers to this process as "cadre deployment" on their own website, suggesting that it is a strategic military exercise.

The ANC has control over both the demand-side and supply-side of senior administrative roles, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), boards, entities, and independent state institutions, as stated in a document accompanying a court action in February.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Friday that Israel must immediately cease its military operations in Rafah, following an application from South Africa to halt the attack in Gaza.

Rabbi Goldstein stated that the ICJ ruling is not only a violation of Israel's right to self-defense but also poses a threat to the United States and all countries of the free world. He pointed out that having a judge from Lebanon presiding over the matter and countries representing the majority of UN members being dictatorships undermines the ability of free democracies to defend themselves against terrorism and violence in the world.

The SA government's stance on the Palestine/Israeli issue has been proven right by the ICJ's rulings. We went to the ICJ to stop Israel's genocidal actions against Palestine. This is what all peace-loving people should do.

The South African government's stance on Israel is a paradoxical reflection of the country's values and constitution. While the government has been the most anti-Israel and pro-Hamas and Iranian, it is not representative of the majority of South Africans who do not exhibit much antisemitism.

The South African Jewish community has experienced among the lowest levels of antisemitism of any Jewish community in the world. Despite this, the ANC government has been pro-Iran, while the South African people have welcomed their fellow Jewish citizens and all citizens of the country. This paradoxical spirit of unity and diversity, which is the motto of the country, draws from the spirit of Nelson Mandela, who is still felt to this day. However, the ANC government's spirit and values are at odds with this spirit of unity and diversity.

Monyela responded, stating, "The issue with this remark is the intentional blending of the boundaries between the ANC and the government. The South African government is not pro-Israel and definitely not pro-Hamas."

"Monyela stated that the suggestion was the most absurd and unacceptable thing to propose. He argued that the false and fabricated narratives, including the baseless antisemitism label, were a blunt instrument used to silence them from speaking out against Israel's genocidal acts against the Palestinian people. He pointed out that the ICJ had repeatedly agreed with them, and the President of France had condemned the latest attacks in Rafah that killed innocent civilians. The White House had also criticized Israel, and the Israeli Prime Minister had called for an investigation. South Africa consistently advocated for the respect of human rights and international law, and their position on the two-state solution was on record."

The ANC did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.