The Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian ordinary passport holders following investigations that found the provision had been deliberately abused by Israeli-linked actors involved in so-called “voluntary emigration” efforts for Gaza residents.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the department said the decision followed investigations and recommendations by national intelligence structures, as well as consultations within the security cluster, which confirmed the ongoing and deliberate misuse of the exemption.
Short-stay visa exemptions, the department explained, are commonly used worldwide to incentivise tourism and short-term travel. However, investigations into the recent arrival of two charter flights carrying Palestinian passport holders revealed that the exemption was being systematically abused to relocate people from Gaza rather than for genuine tourism purposes.
“Rather than using ordinary commercial flights, entire airplanes were chartered not by the travellers themselves, but by intermediaries. Most passengers were issued one-way tickets and prohibited from bringing luggage, except for US dollars and essential items,” the department said.
Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, authorities further discovered that many of the passengers lacked proof of accommodation in South Africa, departure verification, and return or onward flight tickets. The department said these factors collectively pointed to clear abuse of the visa exemption.
Home Affairs added that the situation also amounted to the abuse of the passengers themselves, as those who arranged the flights were “apparently content to leave the travellers destitute upon their arrival in South Africa”. Most of the travellers reportedly indicated that they did not wish to apply for asylum, prompting civil society organisations to step in and provide humanitarian assistance.
Investigations further suggest that the charter flights were not isolated incidents but may form part of a broader, ongoing effort to relocate Palestinians to other parts of the world. The department revealed that a Dubai-based broker, with offices in South Africa, had recently requested bulk quotations for additional charter flights.
Following the withdrawal of the exemption, Home Affairs said it would process any asylum applications submitted by passengers from the two charter flights, while ensuring that bona fide Palestinian travellers can still apply for visas through normal channels. Any further attempts at abuse, the department warned, will be rejected.
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber said President Cyril Ramaphosa had already indicated concerns when the most recent charter flight landed at OR Tambo.
“Subsequent investigations have confirmed that the travellers may have been flushed out of Gaza. Withdrawing the visa exemption is the most effective way to prevent further flights of this nature, while ensuring that bona fide travellers from Palestine are safely able to visit South Africa without being subjected to abuse,” Schreiber said.
“South Africa will not be complicit in any scheme to exploit or displace Palestinians from Gaza.”
