South Africa and Israel Trade Expulsions Over 'Insulting' Conduct
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel reached a new breaking point on Friday as both nations ordered the expulsion of their respective senior diplomats, marking a historic low in a relationship already fractured by legal battles at the United Nations’ top court.
The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) declared Ariel Seidman, Israel’s chargé d’affaires and highest-ranking representative in the country, persona non grata. In a swift retaliatory move hours later, Israel ordered the departure of Shaun Edward Byneveldt, South Africa’s senior representative to the region. Both officials were granted 72 hours to leave their respective posts.
South African officials justified the move by accusing the Israeli embassy of a "sustained pattern" of misconduct. Specifically, DIRCO cited the repeated use of official social media platforms to launch "insulting attacks" against President Cyril Ramaphosa and a "deliberate failure" to inform the government of visits by senior Israeli officials to the country.
A primary flashpoint for the decision involved recent meetings between Israeli diplomats and King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the AbaThembu in the Eastern Cape. The embassy reportedly brokered aid deals for water and health infrastructure directly with the traditional leader, bypassing national government protocols. The Israeli embassy subsequently posted videos on social media of the King welcoming the aid, adding a caption that claimed the South African media "didn't want you to see" the footage.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as "baseless" and "unilateral". In a statement posted to X, Israeli officials characterised the move as a byproduct of South Africa's "false attacks against Israel in the international arena." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar confirmed the reciprocal expulsion of Byneveldt, adding that "additional measures will be considered in due time."
The expulsion of Byneveldt is particularly complex, as he serves as South Africa's ambassador to the State of Palestine, based in Ramallah. DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri criticised the Israeli retaliation, noting that Byneveldt is accredited to Palestine, not Israel. Phiri argued that Israel’s move "underscores [its] refusal to honour international consensus on Palestinian statehood."
Tensions have been simmering since late 2023, when South Africa filed a landmark case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza—a charge Israel has vehemently denied.
