The exemption, introduced in 2017 amid South Africa's vocal advocacy for Palestinian rights, allowed ordinary passport holders from the Palestinian Authority to enter visa-free for up to three months, a gesture hailed as a bridge of solidarity in a post-apartheid era. It symbolized Pretoria's alignment with the global South, culminating in its landmark 2023 case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Yet, the policy's benevolence unraveled with the arrivals of the charter flights, which Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber labeled as "not tourism or short-stays as intended, but to relocate Palestinians from Gaza."
The first flight touched down on October 28, 2025, carrying 176 Palestinians on a charter operated by Romanian carrier Flyyo, routed from Nairobi to Johannesburg. The second, more contentious arrival came on November 13, ferrying 153 Gazans via the same route after a stopover at Israel's Ramon Airport. Passengers, many fleeing the rubble of Gaza amid Israel's ongoing military campaign, lacked exit stamps from Palestinian territories, onward travel documents, and even basic luggage — permitted only US dollars and essentials. Held on the tarmac for 12 sweltering hours without food or water, the November group sparked national outcry, with President Cyril Ramaphosa decrying them as potentially "flushed out of Gaza" in a mysterious operation. Humanitarian NGO Gift of the Givers intervened, vouching for their welfare and securing entry for most, but not before highlighting the human cost: families deceived by brokers charging $1,000–$2,000 per ticket, under false pretenses of transit to Canada or Australia.
National intelligence probes uncovered a web of intermediaries: a Dubai-based broker with South African offices soliciting bulk charter quotes "as soon as possible," and the shadowy Al-Majd Europe agency, tied to Israeli-Estonian operator Tomer Yanar Lind, coordinating with Israel's Defense Ministry immigration unit and COGAT. Schreiber affirmed: "South Africa will not be complicit in any scheme to exploit or displace Palestinians from Gaza." The flights, he said, bypassed commercial routes to evade scrutiny, with passengers often unaware of their South African endpoint — believing India or elsewhere their destination. This echoes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated calls for "voluntary" Gazan resettlement, a proposal lambasted internationally as ethnic cleansing amid the war that has killed over 43,000 Palestinians since October 2023.
Going forward, bona fide Palestinian visitors must apply for visas through standard channels — facilitated via South Africa's Ramallah office — but those from the recent flights retain their exemption terms if not seeking asylum, with applications processed expeditiously. The Palestinian Embassy in Pretoria welcomed the probe's findings but urged safeguards for West Bank travelers, noting Gaza's isolation precludes pre-flight applications.
Sunday's reactions crystallized South Africa's polarized pro-Palestine stance. Roshan Dadoo, coordinator of the BDS South Africa Coalition, decried the revocation as "collective punishment," echoing apartheid-era blanket restrictions. "We campaigned for years for this exemption and rejoiced when implemented," she said, aligning with Schreiber's condemnation of Israeli "abuse" but faulting the broad stroke: "Target the charter companies — deny overflight rights — not all Palestinians, including West Bank conference-goers arriving next week." Dadoo highlighted Gaza's visa inaccessibility, with Ramallah offices unreachable amid blockade.
Political science lecturer Ahmed Jhazbhay at the University of South Africa amplified the chorus, calling it "unfair penalization of a vulnerable community" that "fuels xenophobic narratives." He invoked South Africa's "moral and historical obligation to stand with the oppressed," warning the policy echoes "fear-driven" apartheid controls. On social media, #PalestineSolidarity trended, with users decrying a "deliberate scheme" via one-way flights. Others quipped: "South Africa sided with Palestine... then realized they messed up real time."
Yet, voices of support emerged. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola branded the flights a "clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians," vowing refusal of future charters. Prominent voices on social media endorsed the withdrawal: "Following abuse... Home Affairs acts."
The saga intersects South Africa's domestic fault lines. With unemployment at 32% and xenophobia simmering — evident in recent riots targeting migrants — the policy risks stoking anti-foreigner fervor. Economically, tourism from the Middle East, though niche, bolsters Cape Town's allure; the exemption's end could chill academic exchanges. Globally, it underscores Pretoria's tightrope: ICJ plaintiff yet pragmatic on borders, amid 2.3 million Gazans displaced.
As Monday dawned, Home Affairs urged calm: "Visa applications will be processed to enable safe visits." BDS vowed protests, while Ramaphosa's office hinted at diplomatic outreach to Israel. In a nation born of reconciliation, the visa saga tests solidarity's limits — will it fortify or fracture bonds with Palestine? For now, Johannesburg's skies, once a gateway of hope, bear the weight of unintended exile.
