Ramaphosa’s promises worthless as embassy still shuttered

Back in December 2023, in a meeting with the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), President Cyril Ramaphosa gave his assurance that the South African embassy in Israel would reopen once there was a Gaza war ceasefire. The ceasefire is now more than a month old, but the embassy is still firmly closed.

The SAJBD sent a letter to Ramaphosa on 4 February to remind him of his commitment. However, the presidency hasn’t responded in the two weeks since, besides an email saying that the letter had been passed on to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), which deals with embassies and consular affairs.

“This is more evidence of how Ramaphosa makes up foreign policy as he goes along,” says Ray Hartley, the author of Ramaphosa: Path to Power. “Statements and commitments made seldom have any bearing on reality but merely attempt to ride whichever populist tide rules on the day. It’s not surprising that he has failed to honour his word on reopening the embassy. In any event, it’s very unlikely that the Iran-leaning DIRCO, which always takes the most radical view, would allow this.”

Indeed, responding to questions from the SA Jewish Report, DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said his department was unlikely to change anything as it was concerned that “the situation in Palestine has reached a critical point”.

“The threats to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza have created fear and uncertainty,” Phiri wrote. “Additionally, the escalation of attacks in the West Bank has further exacerbated the crisis. In light of this, we are closely monitoring the ceasefire.”

The issues around the embassy in Ramat Gan began back in 2017, when the African National Congress voted for its downgrade to a liaison office. The government recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv in 2018. In April 2019, then South African foreign minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, announced that the ambassador wouldn’t be replaced when his term ended and the embassy would be downgraded to a liaison office. This was reinforced by a symbolic vote in South Africa’s Parliament in March 2023 in favour of the downgrade.

On 6 November 2023, South Africa recalled its diplomats in Israel as a way of censuring the Jewish state for the Gaza war, essentially closing the embassy. It has been closed ever since. In late November 2023, Israel recalled Israeli Ambassador Eli Belotsercovsky to Tel Aviv for “consultations”, and he hasn’t returned.

Said SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn, “We were told both at the time of the closure, at the meeting with the president on 13 December 2023, and in subsequent meetings and communications that this was a temporary closure until such time as a ceasefire was reached. Now that this has taken place, we call on our government to reopen the mission and reinstate consular services in a country with many South African citizens.”

Kahn said the SAJBD wrote directly to the president “as the matter had been discussed with him at our 13 December 2023 meeting, where we expressed the difficulties experienced by South Africans in Israel in the absence of a South African embassy”, such as applying for passports, death certificates, and birth certificates.

“DIRCO has made arrangements in most circumstances, but it has been a challenge,” said Kahn. “Another difficulty has been applications for work and other visas. DIRCO arranged for other embassies to assist, but it involved travelling to other countries to make applications.”

The letter asks Ramaphosa for feedback on his intentions to reopen the embassy, but Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Michael Bagraim doubts the president will live up to his commitment.

“The reality is that much of what the president says is for effect only and certainly not to be implemented,” Bagraim said. “I believe that he’s probably even forgotten about what he had to say, and in any event, he cannot do something without turning to his various handlers and controllers. I don’t believe the ceasefire promise was worth the paper it was written on.”

South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) spokesperson Rolene Marks said the SAZF urged the immediate reopening of the embassy in line with the government’s commitment made upon the establishment of a ceasefire. “This prolonged closure and dereliction of duty has left thousands of South African citizens effectively abandoned, struggling to access essential consular services including critical emergency support, compromising their welfare and security. This affects real people with real needs, from students and businesspeople to tourists and dual citizens who depend on their government’s support.

“South Africa’s diplomatic relationship with Israel carries clear legal obligations to maintain functional embassy services for its citizens,” said Marks. “Reopening the embassy represents a practical step toward fulfilling both legal obligations and diplomatic responsibilities. It would demonstrate South Africa’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ interests while maintaining its position as a credible participant in international affairs. Diplomatic withdrawal serves neither our national interests nor our citizens’ needs.”

Bafana Modise, the head of media at the South African Friends of Israel (SAFI), agrees that the embassy closure affects many South Africans, including Christians. “Not having consular support isn’t easy when you are in a foreign land. However, we have also witnessed an increase in tourism from South Africa to Israel,” he said. “This shows that regardless of the government’s position, the people of this country are indifferent to hatred, and most travel to Israel annually.

“SAFI’s position is that the embassy must be opened in Israel,” he said. “South Africans refuse to be labelled as enemies of Israel. That is evidenced by continued travel to the Holy Land, and continued business relations. We call upon government to choose people rather than partisan policies which aren’t in the interest of the majority.”

Kim Kur, who works to help South Africans navigate travel challenges, notes that the embassy had already been downgraded to a liaison office before the war and therefore was unlikely to be restored to a fully functioning embassy.

To South Africans in Israel, she advises that they “make every effort to register your children as South African”, so that they can fly in and out of South Africa should visas be required. She said there were many options in applying for a late registration of birth abroad, including at several branches of home affairs in South Africa or through any DIRCO mission abroad. Many Israelis choose the missions in Cyprus, Greece, or the United Kingdom.

She recommends that South Africans abroad apply for their new passports at least a year before they are due to expire. It’s noteworthy that should South Africans ever require a visa to visit Israel, the current three-month requirement could grow to six months. Kur points out that while citizens of Israel can stay in South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa, this could change in light of South Africa’s hostility to Israel, and vice versa.

The SA Jewish Report reached out to the presidency for comment but didn’t receive a response by the time of going to print.