South Africa has declared Israel’s top diplomat in the country persona non grata, ordering him to leave within 72 hours following what officials described as repeated breaches of diplomatic norms.
The expulsion follows what South African authorities characterized as “unacceptable violations,” including public attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa and undisclosed visits by senior Israeli officials, which the government said posed a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced yesterday that Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Israeli Embassy, must depart the Republic by Sunday evening.
DIRCO specifically cited the use of official Israeli social media channels to launch what it called “insulting attacks” against President Ramaphosa, along with a failure to properly notify South African officials of visits by senior Israeli representatives.
While no financial or contractual matters were involved, officials emphasized that the violations pertain strictly to conduct and protocol, highlighting the seriousness of the breach.
“The repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa, along with a deliberate failure to inform this ministry of senior Israeli visits, represents a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention,” the ministry said.
“Such actions have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations,” the department added.
South Africa said it had informed the Israeli government of the decision to expel Seidman and accused him of “systematically” undermining diplomatic relations.
The ministry also warned foreign missions that all diplomatic activities must comply with the Vienna Convention and local regulations. Unauthorized engagements or public commentary undermining national dignity will not be tolerated.
South Africa affirmed that further violations could trigger additional measures, including potential diplomatic sanctions, concluding that it “will continue to enforce the rules and protections essential for bilateral relations, ensuring that all diplomatic personnel respect the sovereignty of the Republic.”
Seidman is the most senior Israeli diplomatic figure in South Africa after Israel recalled its ambassador in 2023.
South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Israel were already severely strained after the country, a longtime supporter of the Palestinian people, accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in a case at the United Nations’ top court.
Israel has strongly denied the allegations of genocide and criticized South Africa for allegedly acting as the legal arm of the Palestinian militant group Hamas by bringing the highly emotive case before the International Court of Justice.
