MZANSI KICK ISRAELI ENVOY OUT - Breakdown sees countries expel diplomats

THE decision on Friday by South Africa to declare Israeli diplomat Ariel Seidman persona non grata, has already versuur the fragile relations between Pretoria and Tel Aviv.

This is according to experts, who warned that this might lead to a complete diplomatic breakdown.

The declaration was followed swiftly by retaliatory action from Israel to expel South African diplomat, Shaun Byneveldt, from the country.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, on Saturday said the declaration was not abrupt but rather “a culmination of activities”.  

Phiri said: “What we have seen over a series of months was the Israeli Embassy in South Africa using the X platform to undermine the South African government and show how disrespectful the conduct of the Israeli government has been.”

The relationship between the two countries deteriorated further after Seidman took his country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry senior official, David Saranga, on a visit to AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo in the Eastern Cape last year without informing DIRCO.

In a statement released on Friday, DIRCO accused Israel of insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and of being in the country without informing DIRCO.

During the visit to the king, Saranga donated food parcels to residents whose homes had been destroyed by floods in May.  

Dalindyebo’s daughter, Ntando Dalindyebo, who is the royal family’s spokesperson, described Seidman’s expulsion as a personal attack on the king.

She confirmed that the king did not inform government authorities about the visit.

She said Saranga promised that the Israeli government would assist the community of Mthatha and other areas in the Eastern Cape.  

The Israeli officials' visit to the king angered Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, who said the koning took them to public institutions in the province, including healthcare facilities and Walter Sisulu University, without the consent of the provincial government.

In a statement released Friday, the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) said Seidman was being punished for helping South Africans get clean water.

International relations expert Dr Ayabulela Dlakavu said Seidman’s expulsion was warranted.

Siseko Maposa, director of Surgetower Associates Management Consultancy, said that while the current tit-for-tat between the two states was serious, it did not yet amount to a complete severance of diplomatic relations.