South Africa has declared Israel’s chargé d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata, ordering him to leave the country within 72 hours.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said the decision followed what it described as repeated breaches of diplomatic norms. These included alleged attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and a failure to notify the department about visits by senior Israeli officials.
Dirco said the actions amounted to a serious violation of diplomatic standards and international law.
“Such actions represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention. They have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations,” the department said.
The department urged the Israeli government to ensure that future diplomatic engagements respect South Africa’s sovereignty and established international protocols.
The expulsion marks a further strain in relations between the two countries, with Seidman now required to depart the country within three days.