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Citizenship review recalls apartheid isolationism

Source: The Times Editorial |, 09/09/2015

The stated purpose of the review is to prevent Israeli citizens living
here from serving in the Jewish state's armed forces, but it appears
that the proposed policy changes would extend far wider than
that.

The Sunday Times quoted Obed Bapela, head of the ANC national
executive committee's subcommittee on international relations, as
saying: ''The question is to see if the world still needs this model
of dual citizenship . We say that, in this new world order, people
should just say 'I am a citizen of South Africa and I pledge my
allegiance to this country'. ''

Bapela's comments, which are in line with the ANC's criticisms of the
Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians, triggered an outcry -
and not just from Jewish citizens incensed that their loyalty to South
Africa was being questioned.

Any attempt to deprive South Africans of their citizenship would
affect millions of people - the vast majority of whom have nothing to
do with Israel - who hold two passports.

The proposed review, which Bapela said had been discussed at the
party's lekgotla in July, and which would be discussed again, would
almost certainly run foul of the constitution.

Scrapping the present dual citizenship model, which works well in a
globalised world, would also cause incalculable harm to the
economy.

Such a move smacks of the isolationist approach of
the apartheid government.

The blunt-instrument nature of the proposal - we already have a law
prohibiting citizens from taking part in foreign military activity -
echoes the government's tough new visa regulations, aimed at curbing
child trafficking, which are costing the economy billions of rands in
lost tourism revenue.

Sometimes the juice really just isn't worth the squeeze.

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