International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor says South Africa's genocide case against Israel is questioning the effectiveness of global governing institutions such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The court is handing down judgment on the matter on Friday afternoon and, whatever the ruling, it's set to shape geopolitics.

Speaking hours before the ICJ ruling, Pandor, who is in the Netherlands, said many people around the world did not know of the ICJ until South Africa brought its genocide case against Israel to the institution.

"Most important, we are saying to this institution [that] we are giving you an opportunity to actually do the task for which you were assigned; a task that I think has sometimes not been upheld as sufficiently, and we're now saying here's the opportunity. So, to a great degree, succeed or fail. The real analysis and judgement is going to be on the court itself," she said.

In its application, South Africa accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention.

It said in the application: "South Africa requests that the court indicate provisional measures to protect and preserve those rights, as well as its own rights under the convention, and to prevent any aggravation or extension of the dispute, pending the determination of the merits of the issues raised by the application."

Israel has vehemently opposed the arguments.

But Pandor said South Africa was hopeful for a positive outcome.

"We've always approached this case in a positive spirit, but our core purpose was really that it is vital to highlight the plight of the innocent in Palestine, to also alert the international community to the great harm that is being done to the people of Palestine, to public institutions and to the general order in that area, and also draw attention to the lack of justice and freedoms over many, many decades, much of which has been ignored by the world.

"I think the Palestinian issue is front and centre of the world, and that is a very important achievement through this case brought by South Africa. Often, I think the world community does not appreciate the efforts that were made by leaders, particularly leaders of the allies. These are mainly Western countries that negotiated the settlement of the end of the Second World War. Following the horrible experiences of the killing of people of Jewish nationality, the world put together institutions whose remit is to protect the innocent, to ensure a different means of settlement of dispute and conflict," she said.

According to the ICJ, proceedings will start at 14:00 (SA time) at the Peace Palace, during which court president Judge Joan E Donoghue will read the court's order.