The South African government on Friday, 30 January 2026, expelled Ariel Seidman, the chargé d’affaires at Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, declaring him persona non grata for what it described as “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice” that challenged South Africa’s sovereignty, officials said.

According to Africanews, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the decision followed a series of incidents, including Seidman’s alleged use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as a failure to inform South African authorities about supposed visits by senior Israeli officials, DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said. Seidman has been given 72 hours to depart the country. 

South Africa’s statement said such behaviour undermined diplomatic trust and protocol, amounting to a breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which governs diplomatic conduct. The ministry urged Israel to ensure that future diplomatic engagement respects South Africa’s sovereignty and established international norms. 

The move marks a significant escalation in tensions between Pretoria and Jerusalem, which have been strained since South Africa filed genocide allegations against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza. Israel has strongly rejected those claims and labelled them unfounded, Reuters noted. 

Hours after the South African announcement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced it had declared South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, persona non grata and ordered him to leave within the same 72-hour timeframe, a direct diplomatic retaliation, Foreign Ministry officials said. 

The reciprocal expulsions reflect deepening diplomatic friction. Analysts say the dispute could further complicate South Africa’s relations with key partners, including close allies of Israel. 

South African activists and political commentators have increasingly criticised Israel’s policies in the Middle East, and the government’s actions signal Pretoria’s willingness to pursue an assertive foreign policy stance even amid potential diplomatic pushback from Western nations. 

Both governments have reiterated that their respective diplomats must leave by the deadline, and efforts to manage the fallout through diplomatic channels are expected in the coming days.