Following South Africa Rugby (SA Rugby)'s announcement last week that it had withdrawn its invitation to Israeli-based Tel AVIV Heat to compete in the Mzanzi Challenge rugby tournament, the ANC has expressed that it hopes that the decision "serves as a reminder to Israel that its illegal occupation of the Palestinian land is an injustice that should not be tolerated".

With the ANC's condemnation of Israel dating many years, the party has gone as far as downgrading its embassy in 2019 and endorsing the baycott of the country.

The decision by SA Rugby to withdraw their invitation to Tel AVIV Heat, comes as the organisation "listened to the opinions of important stakeholder groups" . The President of SA rugby, Mark Alexander, further added that the decision was taken to avoid the chances of the competition being a source of division.

"The ANC continues to call on all progressive forces of the world to continue putting pressure on Israel to go back to peaceful dialogue around the two states' solution and ultimately end one of the most protracted conflicts in the Middle East"- ANC

Meanwhile, the ANC has reiterated its dissatisfaction with Israel, calling for the world to continue placing pressure on the country to return to peaceful discussions.

With Tel AVIV Heat, out of the equation, the team could be replaced by a Mexican side, which would join teams from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Spain.