South Africa expels Israel’s chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman after diplomatic breach

South Africa’s foreign ministry has declared Ariel Seidman, Israel’s chargé d’affaires in Pretoria, persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 72 hours, saying his conduct amounted to “a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty.” The Department of International Relations and Cooperation posted the decision on Jan. 30, citing what it called “a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice.”

In its statement DIRCO said the violations included “the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a deliberate failure to inform DIRCO of purported visits by senior Israeli officials.” The department added that Seidman’s conduct amounted to “a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention,” and that the actions “have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations.” The government urged Israel to “ensure its future diplomatic conduct demonstrates respect for the Republic and the established principles of international engagement.” Enquiries were directed to Mr Chrispin Phiri, the ministry spokesperson.

The expulsion formalizes a deterioration in ties that has been building for years. Israel recalled its ambassador to South Africa in 2023, and Seidman has been described by news agencies as the most senior Israeli diplomat remaining in Pretoria. The move comes against a backdrop of heightened tension after South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, an allegation Israel has strongly denied and has criticized as politically motivated.

South Africa’s action is likely to deepen the diplomatic rupture and complicate already limited channels of communication. The Associated Press noted the decision is “also likely to provoke a strong reaction from the United States, a close Israeli ally,” and cited past comments from the U.S. administration that criticized South Africa over its court case. Analysts say the expulsion signals that legal and rhetorical disputes over Gaza have migrated into everyday diplomatic practice, reducing the scope for quiet crisis management.

For markets and policy, the immediate economic effects are expected to be limited. South Africa and Israel are not major bilateral trade partners on the scale of China or the European Union, and sources do not report any immediate trade measures tied to the expulsion. However, the incident increases geopolitical risk in capital allocation and could add to reputational and political risk premiums for investors focused on the region or on companies with linked operations. Policymakers will watch whether the move prompts reciprocal measures, further consular withdrawals, or wider diplomatic alignments that could affect foreign investment flows.

DIRCO’s declaration and the 72-hour departure requirement mark a sharp escalation that leaves little room for rapid de-escalation. South Africa says it has informed the Israeli government of the decision. Next steps include confirmation of Seidman’s departure and any formal response from Israel; both will be closely monitored by diplomatic partners, including Washington.