Cape Town – South African aviation operators have for months been receiving numerous requests for charter flights carrying Palestinians, with at least two such flights having already arrived in the country, reports say.
More than 150 Palestinians landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday on a charter flight from Kenya and were detained for several hours due to missing immigration documents.
They were later released to the NGO Gift of the Givers.
The Citizen cited Rapport, as saying that another similar flight reportedly arrived quietly in October, arranged through the same controversial intermediaries, Al-Majd Europe.
Operators say requests for these flights have been coming in since August, with passengers paying between $1,000 and $1,500 to escape Gaza and being instructed to carry only backpacks, the report revealed.
Some of the arrivals have since travelled on to Australia and Egypt, while the rest have been granted 90-day tourist visas.
The latest flight was allegedly scheduled to land during next week’s G20 Summit to create maximum political attention, the report said.
South African intelligence agencies are investigating the circumstances around the arrivals.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the group could not be turned away due to humanitarian concerns, though he noted suggestions they were being “flushed out” of Gaza.
He insisted that government would close any loopholes to prevent overstaying.
We are providing support and processing the 160 Palestinian refugees who arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on humanitarian grounds, ensuring that our response is rooted in compassion and empathy. pic.twitter.com/pKXNBaYwEh
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 14, 2025
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula criticised poor government communication and demanded clarity on whether the arrivals are connected to a broader “depopulation” effort.
He urged that all Palestinians be granted political asylum and warned that the ANC would “rise” if this did not happen.
“There has been a communication gap with our government with regards to the Palestrina asylum seekers. Government ministers should be at the forefront of explain the situation that unfolded at OR Tambo Airport,” Mbalula said in a post on X.
[WATCH] PALESTINIAN ASLYUM SEEKERS.
There has been a communication gap with our government with regards to the Palestrina asylum seekers. Government ministers should be at the forefront of explain the situation that unfolded at OR Tambo Airport. Government especially home… pic.twitter.com/zrSj2mJZBA
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) November 14, 2025
“Government especially home affairs that is led by the DAs Leon Schreiber has failed to effectively inform citizens on this issue. South Africans have a right to be informed.
“As the ANC we want Palestinians to be given asylum status which our country as a signatory to the Geneva Convention. But we need government and GCIS to effectively communicate.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
