South Africa Withdraws 90-Day Visa Exemption For Palestinian Travellers Amid Alleged Exploitation

South Africa has scrapped the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian ordinary passport holders, citing what it says is deliberate and sustained abuse of the system by Israeli actors involved in “voluntary emigration” initiatives targeting Gaza residents.

The decision follows investigations by national intelligence structures and consultations within the security cluster.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said that when a recent charter flight carrying Palestinian travellers landed at OR Tambo International Airport, President Cyril Ramaphosa raised concerns that the passengers might have been pushed out of Gaza.

Schreiber said intelligence findings confirmed those concerns. “Withdrawing the visa exemption is the most effective way to prevent further flights of this nature, while ensuring that bona fide travellers from Palestine are safely able to visit South Africa without being subjected to abuse. South Africa will not be complicit in any scheme to exploit or displace Palestinians from Gaza,” he said.

Visa Abuse Allegations Spark Security Concerns

Short-stay visa waivers are widely used globally to boost tourism and facilitate short visits. However, Home Affairs spokesperson Carli Van Wyk said investigations into two recent charter flights carrying Palestinian passport holders uncovered systematic manipulation of the exemption, with travel arranged not for tourism but allegedly to relocate people from Gaza.

According to Van Wyk, passengers did not book commercial flights but were transported on chartered aircraft arranged by intermediaries. Many reportedly travelled with one-way tickets, no luggage, and were instructed to carry only US dollars and essential items.

“On their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, it was further discovered that many of them lacked departure verification and accommodation in South Africa, in addition to not possessing return or onward flight tickets.

“Taken together, this constituted obvious abuse of the exemption by external actors for purposes other than its intended use,” Van Wyk said.

Home Affairs Flags Ongoing Relocation Efforts

The department said these events amounted to exploitation of the passengers themselves, as organisers were allegedly prepared to leave travellers without support upon arrival. Most passengers indicated they did not wish to seek asylum, prompting civil society organisations to step in and provide assistance.

Investigators also believe the flights may not have been isolated incidents. Van Wyk said there were reports of a Dubai-based broker with offices in South Africa requesting bulk quotations for more charter flights “to commence as soon as possible”.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: BMA Seizes Illegal Goods, Arrests 8,000 Over Border Violations In Major Crackdown

Following the exemption withdrawal, Home Affairs will process any asylum applications from those who arrived on the two charter flights, while remaining compliant with the original 90-day conditions for travellers who choose not to apply for asylum.

“Going forward, visa applications from bona fide Palestinian travellers will be processed accordingly to enable them to visit South Africa, while any further attempts at abuse will be rejected,” Van Wyk said.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky