Monday, 08 December 2025.  

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the announcement by the Department of Home Affairs withdrawing the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders following revelations of systematic abuse of the exemption by external actors linked to Israel’s ongoing agenda of forced displacement of Palestinians.

The EFF further notes the investigative report recently published, which confirms that chartered flights were arranged as part of a coordinated attempt to remove Palestinians from Gaza under the guise of voluntary emigration. What has been uncovered is the continuation of Israel’s genocidal project against the Palestinian people, a project that now seeks to disperse Palestinians across the world by coercive means.

These actions represent a deliberate attempt to turn South Africa into an endpoint for ethnic cleansing efforts, disguising displacement as travel, and exposing vulnerable people to exploitation, uncertainty, and destitution. The Department’s statement reveals that entire aircraft were chartered through intermediaries, not by the travellers themselves, and that Palestinian passengers were provided one-way tickets, limited to carrying only US dollars and essential items.

Upon arrival, many had no accommodation plans, no onward tickets and no proper documentation indicating legitimate travel intentions. This, according the report, demonstrates a calculated operation by external agents to remove Palestinians from their homeland while abandoning them once they reached South Africa.

The discovery that these charter flights may be part of a broader, ongoing scheme with brokers already attempting to arrange additional flights, confirms that South Africa was being targeted as a destination for a disguised programme of population removal. This constitutes direct participation in apartheid Israel’s objective of depopulating Gaza and separating Palestinians from their land, culture and identity.

The EFF supports South Africa’s obligation to protect the integrity of its borders and immigration systems. However, we emphasise that Palestinians themselves must never be treated as perpetrators but as victims of an international crime. The abuse documented by the Department is not an abuse by Palestinians, it is abuse committed against them by those who arranged the flights, manipulated their vulnerability and used South Africa’s generosity as a tool to advance Israel’s agenda of forced displacement.

South Africa’s solidarity with Palestine has been ongoing, and it must remain so. While regulation of immigration is necessary, the withdrawal of the visa exemption is an extreme measure being taken on the investigation of just one flight. This must not be allowed to create barriers for Palestinian travellers.

Palestinians seeking refuge, medical treatment, family reunification or visitation must still be welcomed through a fair, humane, and expeditious visa process. While South Africa must guard against allowing Israeli-linked actors to exploit our immigration systems, ensuring that Palestinians facing persecution continue to find friendship and protection in this country remains necessary.

We call for thorough investigations into all intermediaries, agencies and networks attempting to use South Africa to facilitate forced migration schemes under the guise of travel, and for decisive action against any individuals or entities found to be complicit. A review of this withdrawal is also necessary as it clearly goes against our stance as a nation in our allyship with the people of Palestine. South Africa’s solidarity with Palestine must never be compromised or manipulated.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581