South Africa has declared Israel’s top diplomat in the country, Ariel Seidman, “persona non grata”, giving him 72 hours to leave, the foreign ministry announced on Friday, citing a series of violations of diplomatic norms.
Relations between Pretoria and Tel Aviv have been strained for some time. In 2023, South Africa brought a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging that Israel’s military actions in Gaza, an illegally occupied Palestinian territory, amounted to genocide.
In its statement, the South African Foreign Ministry accused Seidman and the Israeli embassy of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice” that challenged South Africa’s sovereignty. Specific grievances included:
Insulting social media posts targeting President Cyril Ramaphosa, including a November tweet from the Israeli embassy commenting: “A rare moment of wisdom and diplomatic clarity from President Ramaphosa” in reference to his remarks on boycott politics.
Failure to notify authorities about “purported visits by senior Israeli officials,” including a recent delegation to the Eastern Cape, which offered support in water, healthcare, and agriculture. The visit was hosted by a traditional Xhosa king who had met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in December 2025, catching South African officials by surprise.
The ministry described these actions as “a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention,” stating that they undermined trust and essential bilateral protocols.
South Africa, home to the largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa, is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and highly critical of Israel. Pretoria’s embassy in Tel Aviv has been closed since November 17, 2023.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola also highlighted concerns over a November incident in which more than 150 Palestinians arrived in South Africa without Israeli exit stamps, raising suspicions of “a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank.”
Tensions have been further inflamed by public protests against Israeli military actions in Gaza, calls for the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, and Seidman’s own criticism of South Africa in November for maintaining ties with Iran while framing engagement with Israel as “illegitimate.”
The expulsion underscores a major diplomatic rift, complicated by deteriorating ties with the Trump administration, a strong ally of Israel, and ongoing legal proceedings at the ICJ.
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