South Africa Expels Top Israeli Envoy!
Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi | Sele Media Africa Journalist
South Africa has taken a dramatic diplomatic step by expelling Israel’s top representative in the country, declaring him persona non grata and giving him 72 hours to leave the Republic, according to an official statement by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
DIRCO identified the expelled diplomat as Ariel Seidman, Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires and the highest-ranking official at the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria, following the absence of a substantive ambassador.
According to the foreign ministry, the decision followed what South African authorities described as “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty.” These included repeated official Israeli social media posts targeting President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the Israeli mission’s failure to notify DIRCO of official visits by senior Israeli officials—actions Pretoria said undermined diplomatic trust and breached established diplomatic protocols.
DIRCO further stated that such conduct amounted to a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, urging the Israeli government to ensure future compliance with international diplomatic standards.
The expulsion is expected to further strain already fragile relations between South Africa and Israel. Diplomatic ties have deteriorated significantly in recent years, particularly after Pretoria filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its conduct in Gaza—allegations Israel has strongly denied.
South Africa, a long-standing critic of Israeli policy and vocal supporter of Palestinian statehood, had earlier downgraded diplomatic relations and withdrawn its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
Observers warn that the move could carry broader geopolitical consequences, potentially drawing reactions from Israel’s allies, including the United States, which has previously criticized South Africa’s foreign policy stance on the Middle East conflict.
Sele Media Africa will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on diplomatic reactions from both governments and the wider international community.
CITATION:
1.TimesLIVE:
https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-01-30-israel-diplomat-ordered-to-leave-south-africa-within-72-hours/
2.News24:
https://www.news24.com/
3.AP News (via CT Post):
https://www.ctpost.com/news/world/article/south-africa-declares-israel-s-deputy-ambassador-21324001.php
4.The Citizen:
https://www.citizen.co.za/
5.Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93South_Africa_relations
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