SOUTH AFRICA can lead the world in ending the bombardment of Gaza, a veteran of the anti-apartheid Soweto Uprising said ahead of the opening of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case tomorrow.

Seth Mazibuko, the youngest of the 1976 student revolt’s leadership, urged his country’s lawyers to “stick to legal arguments” and not “dilute” the prosecution with emotional pleas.

The ICJ has the power to grant “emergency measures” demanding the end of aggression while the court reaches a judgement — but it cannot enforce them.

Mr Mazibuko, who spent 18 months in solitary confinement and then seven years on Robben Island following the uprising, said: “I think it’s the right move from South Africa. We as South Africans, and black South Africans for that matter, actually know the pain [of apartheid]. There aren’t many societies and countries that could understand that but South Africans.”

South Africa’s case will be put forward by a team including veteran human rights lawyer John Dugard and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who has represented the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters and an anti-corruption inquiry in a series of cases against former president Jacob Zuma.

The country has also appointed former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke to the ICJ’s bench, which will deliberate on the case. A final judgement could take several years.

Mr Mazibuko added: “South Africa should take a position of a voice that brings sanity, peace and reconciliation.

“And it doesn’t only play this role for South Africa, it plays this role for Africa and the world. The world has not taken action — South Africa has.”