Pretoria – The US State Department has criticised South Africa’s foreign policy after Dirco declared Israeli chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman persona non grata last week.
Dirco ordered him out within 72 hours for alleged sovereignty violations like insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and unreported Israeli visits.
MEDIA STATEMENT
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. pic.twitter.com/IINt3ixnCO
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) January 30, 2026
This mirrors the US expelling SA Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March 2025 over Trump comments.
US spokesperson Tommy Pigott called it “poor foreign policy,” accusing SA of prioritising ANC-Hamas ties over citizens’ interests.
“South Africa’s recent decision to expel Israel’s top diplomat is another example of its poor foreign policy choices.
South Africa’s recent decision to expel Israel’s top diplomat is another example of its poor foreign policy choices. Expelling a diplomat for calling out the African National Congress party’s ties to Hamas and other antisemitic radicals prioritizes grievance politics over the…
— Tommy Pigott (@StateDeputySpox) February 3, 2026
“Expelling a diplomat for calling out the African National Congress party’s ties to Hamas and other antisemitic radicals prioritises grievance politics over the good of South Africa and its citizens,” the report quoted Piggot as saying.
Pretoria denies direct Hamas links, supporting Palestinians via the Authority; past ANC meetings with Hamas were party-level, not government.
Ramaphosa defends SA’s “active non-alignment” per the Freedom Charter, shaped by national interests.
Israel retaliated by expelling SA’s Palestinian Authority ambassador Shaun Byneveldt.
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…
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) January 30, 2026
Tensions stem from Israel’s Gaza operations post-7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, leading to mutual diplomat withdrawals.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
