South Africa has escalated diplomatic tensions with Israel by declaring Mr. Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy, persona non grata. This decisive measure, announced by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), requires Mr. Seidman to depart from the Republic within 72 hours.

The move comes amidst a deepening rift between the two nations, intensified since South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over allegations of genocide in Gaza. With no Israeli ambassador currently stationed in South Africa, this latest development pushes bilateral relations to a new low.

DIRCO outlined a series of grave violations of diplomatic norms and practices as the basis for its decision, asserting that these actions directly challenge South Africa’s sovereignty. Specifically, the department cited Mr. Seidman's alleged repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa. Furthermore, a deliberate failure to inform DIRCO of purported visits by senior Israeli officials without authorization was highlighted as a significant breach of protocol.

These actions, according to DIRCO, represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The department emphasized that such conduct has systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for maintaining sound bilateral relations between the two countries. South Africa unequivocally stated that its sovereignty and the dignity of its offices are inviolable, stressing that all diplomats accredited to the nation are expected to adhere strictly to international diplomatic conventions and respect its established procedures.

Pretoria has urged the Israeli Government to ensure its future diplomatic conduct demonstrates respect for the Republic and the established principles of international engagement, warning of a potentially wider diplomatic crisis.