SOUTH Africa has withdrawn its 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders following investigations that revealed what authorities describe as “systematic abuse” by Israeli-linked actors attempting to relocate Gaza residents, the Department of Home Affairs announced Saturday.
The decision follows the controversial arrival of two charter flights carrying Palestinians to OR Tambo International Airport, where passengers were held for hours before being permitted entry amid intense drama and uncertainty about their status.
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber said the exemption withdrawal came after consultations with national intelligence structures and the Security Cluster confirmed “deliberate and ongoing abuse” of the visa provision by actors connected to what officials termed “voluntary emigration” efforts for Gaza residents.
The investigations revealed that passengers on the charter flights were given one-way tickets to South Africa, prohibited from bringing luggage, and allowed to carry only U.S. dollars and essentials. Many lacked accommodation arrangements, departure verification, or return tickets upon arrival.
“When the most recent charter flight landed at OR Tambo International Airport, President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that the travellers may have been flushed out of Gaza. Subsequent investigations have confirmed this to be the case,” Schreiber said.
The flights were not booked by passengers themselves, but by intermediaries, authorities said. Most passengers indicated they did not wish to claim asylum in South Africa, requiring civil society organisations to assume responsibility for their welfare.
Investigations also uncovered evidence suggesting the flights were part of a broader, ongoing relocation effort. The department revealed that a Dubai-based broker with South African offices recently requested bulk quotations for additional charter flights “to commence as soon as possible.”
The move comes as South Africa pursues a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the conduct of the Gaza war.
The department said it will process asylum applications from passengers who arrived on the two charter flights while honouring the 90-day exemption terms for those not seeking asylum. Going forward, visa applications from legitimate Palestinian travellers will be processed to enable visits to South Africa.
“South Africa will not be complicit in any scheme to exploit or displace Palestinians from Gaza,” Schreiber said.
