₦airaland Forum

South Africa has expelled Israel's top diplomat in the country for "violating diplomatic norms", a move that prompted Israel to kick out a South African envoy in retaliation.

The diplomatic row started when South Africa's foreign affairs ministry declared Ariel Seidman, chargé d'affaires at the Israeli embassy, persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.

Hours later, Israel announced similar action against South Africa's representative in that country, Shaun Edward Byneveldt.

Relations between the two countries have been frosty since South Africa accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a charge Israel has rejected.

South Africa accused Seidman of using official social media platforms to attack Ramaphosa and inviting Israeli officials to the country without permission.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgn8ejljqwo

Israeli Chargé d’Affaires Declared Persona Non Grata
30 January 2026

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has informed the Government of the State of Israel of its decision to declare Mr Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy, persona non grata.

This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty. These violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a deliberate failure to inform DIRCO of purported visits by senior Israeli officials.

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.

South Africa’s sovereignty and the dignity of its offices are inviolable. Mr Seidman is required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours.

We urge the Israeli Government to ensure its future diplomatic conduct demonstrates respect for the Republic and the established principles of international engagement.

Enquiries: Mr Chrispin Phiri, Ministry Spokesperson

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084

Department of International Relations And Co-operation, Republic of South Africa

Israel reciprocates

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar decided - following South Africa’s false attacks against Israel in the international arena and the unilateral, baseless step taken against the Chargé d’Affaires of Israel in South Africa - that South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Minister Shaun Edward Byneveldt, is persona non grata and must leave Israel within 72 hours.
Additional steps will be considered in due course.

Israel Foreign Ministry

Not surprised...


The relationship between both countries has been cold and just tolerable for some time now.


South Africa has been outspoken in her foreign policy direction... I like how they have taken bold positions in their stance in world policy/politics and affairs and contribute in that aspect!

Trouble dey sleep, yanga go wake am!

Cant SA sue for peace ni, must they follow Iran enter ditch?

But Iran and Syria has an active embassy there

Nice one, tit for tat, South Africa behaving like they are that important and irrelevant in world politics, xenophobia is still rampant, instead of focusing on that, they're meddling into what doesn't affect them.

And Nigeria still has an embassy there

South Africa will be the next to be buried after Venezuela and iran

fmlala:
Cant SA sue for peace ni, must they follow Iran enter ditch?

By the time Islam grows in SA they will understand the language Isreal is speaking

I just love the balls of the South African government. Them nodi swallow rubbish even from Trump..

After all they have seen worse. For decades the West supported the Apartheid regime of the Boers, sidelining freedom fighters like Mandela as criminals..So first hand they know the hypocrisy of the Wat Man..

NairaMaster1:
By the time Islam grows in SA they will understand the language Isreal is speaking

They are still building their numbers. They don't terrorize at this phase.

Do me i do you
wahala everywhere

Nice one from Israel 🇮🇱. Xenophobia is also an act of genocide

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar decided - following South Africa’s false attacks against Israel in the international arena and the unilateral, baseless step taken against the Chargé d’Affaires of Israel in South Africa - that South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Minister Shaun Edward Byneveldt, is persona non grata and must leave Israel within 72 hours.
Additional steps will be considered in due course.
Israel Foreign Ministry

Any idea of in bold

NairaMaster1:
By the time Islam grows in SA they will understand the language Isreal is speaking

And in your mind, Islam is not in South Africa before your great grandmother was born.

South Africa is small yanch dey shake

fmlala:
Cant SA sue for peace ni, must they follow Iran enter ditch?

Sue fir peace for what? Did you read the article?

Kingdavid579:
But Iran and Syria has an active embassy there

Well to be fair , you only expel who's causing trouble in your country .

RedChair:
Thy are still building their numbers. They don't terrorize at this phase.

The Dubai that you and your entire generation are struggling to go is a Muslim country and it doesn't terrorize anybody.

fmlala:
Cant SA sue for peace ni, must they follow Iran enter ditch?

To many followers of religious mentality, Israel 🇮🇱 is always right and anyone that challenges their misteps is a criminal and a terrorist.

Back to you, why is Iran 🇮🇷 in the comment and why always divert from the issue on the table.

Anyways, our Nigerian Jews from the east already stated they will always be right in whatever they do or say because jesus commanded them to support Israel beyond open and direct logical thinking.

They dont mind selling the Southeast region to Israel to become an entrapped Israelis within Nigeria. Shame to every ideologies that reject truths and fair judgement

South Africans that are still discriminating against one another and unleashing xenophobic attack on their African brothers yet claiming be in solidarity with faraway nations.

fmlala:
Cant SA sue for peace ni, must they follow Iran enter ditch?

not everyone is content with being a well fed comfortable slave

I just dey laugh South Africa’s, Islam is very dangerous to dey close to

RodgersAkpafu:
not everyone is content with being a well fed comfortable slave

Bros I love that hit. That guy is comfortable with deceit and already machined, engineered to remain like that forever.
Perhaps the pay is fairly worth it?

To think that it was Israel that gave SA it's first and only Nuclear weapons.....before SA completely disarmed. Crazy

Tit for tat. Do me i do you

micellgevity:
The Dubai that you and your entire generation are struggling to go is a Muslim country and it doesn't terrorize anybody.

Falls off chair laughing

Some of you cllowns judge everyone else through your own realities.

fmlala:
Cant SA sue for peace ni, must they follow Iran enter ditch?

Small mind, this geo-political games. It is not Arsenal vs Chelsea game. Sit this one out.

brain54:
Not surprised...


The relationship between both countries has been cold and just tolerable for some time now.


South Africa has been outspoken in her foreign policy direction... I like how they have taken bold positions in their stance in world policy/politics and affairs and contribute in that aspect!

Israel is not a country. Correct yourself