Roberto Ascani, leader of the South African branch of the Italian neo-Fascist party MSI which opened an office here recently, believes that “If we had another Hitler today the world would be a better place.” But he claims his party is not anti-Jewish, only anti-Communist. Ascani, who was quoted in an interview published in the Johannesburg Sunday Times, claims his party has several hundred members among the local Italian community. He has lived in South Africa for 12 years.
According to the Times, the local party operates under the name “The Three Color Committee for Italians All Over the World” and has as its symbol the green, white and red emblem of the Italian Fascists. The walls of Ascani’s study are hung with photographs of Mussolini and other deceased Fascist leaders. He claims his party does not interfere in South African politics though it supports apartheid, the Times reported. Ascani described the late Duce as “a wonderful man.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
