News24 | EFF calls for probe into government’s scrapping of 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians

Over 150 Palestinian refugees arrived on a charter plane at OR Tambo International Airport in November.

• The EFF urges investigation into the withdrawal of South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians
• But it added that there was a need to scrutinise intermediaries, agencies and networks that may be using SA to facilitate forced migration disguised as travel.
• The EFF said this was an attempt to depopulate Gaza of Palestinians.

The EFF has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians.

But the party also said there was an urgent need to scrutinise intermediaries, agencies and networks that may be using South Africa to facilitate forced migration disguised as legitimate travel.

“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,” it said in a statement.

This follows the arrival in South Africa of a group of Palestinians on a chartered flight in November.

The EFF said there appeared to be a deliberate effort to turn South Africa into an endpoint for ethnic cleansing efforts, disguising displacement as travel, and exposing vulnerable people to exploitation, uncertainty, and destitution.

READ | SA ends 90-day visa perk for Palestinians after ‘systematic abuse of exemption’

Over the weekend, News24 reported that the Department of Home Affairs had withdrawn the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian citizens holding ordinary passports.

This came after two charter flights transporting Palestinian passport holders with short-stay visas landed in South Africa last month. The department believes the intention was allegedly to relocate them from Gaza.

In a statement on Saturday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said investigations had indicated that the arrival of the charter flights was not intended to be a one-off event, but “may be part of a broader, ongoing effort to relocate Palestinians to other parts of the world”.

The investigation allegedly uncovered reports that a Dubai-based broker, with offices in South Africa, recently requested bulk quotations for more charter flights to commence as soon as possible.

“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,” said the minister.

According to the EFF, the investigation further confirmed that the charter 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,” it said.

“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.”

READ | UPDATE | Palestinians appear to have been ‘flushed out’, Ramaphosa says as probe takes place

As reported previously, the EFF stated that upon arrival, many on board had no accommodation plans, no onward tickets, and no proper documentation indicating legitimate travel intentions.

“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,” it said.

“This constitutes direct participation in apartheid Israel’s objective of depopulating Gaza and separating Palestinians from their land, culture and identity.”

While the party supported South Africa’s obligation to protect the integrity of its borders and immigration systems, it emphasised the Palestinians 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.”

The EFF said that Palestinians seeking refuge, medical treatment, family reunification or visitation should still be welcomed through a fair, humane, and expeditious visa process.