Israel Declares South Africa’s Shaun Byneveldt Persona Non Grata in Response to DIRCO’s Actions

• Israel has retaliated following South Africa’s earlier decision and taken action against Shaun Byneveldt
• The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) declared Israel’s chargé d’affaires persona non grata
• DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri responded to Israel's decision, criticising its stance on Palestine's statehood
• Briefly News also reached out to the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) about the latest developments

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

ISRAEL - In response to South Africa’s recent actions, Israel has named Ambassador Shaun Edward Byneveldt ‘persona non grata’.

Byneveldt is the current South African ambassador to the State of Palestine, but has been asked to leave Israel within 72 hours. The decision comes shortly after the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) informed the Government of the State of Israel that Ariel Seidman was declared persona non grata.

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Seidman is the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy.

Israel reacts to South Africa’s decision against Seidman

According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar decided that South Africa's senior diplomatic representative should leave Israel. This follows what the Israeli government terms ‘South Africa's false attacks on Israel in the international arena’.

It also described the move against Seidman as baseless and stated that additional steps will be considered later.

DIRCO responds to Israel’s decision

Reacting to Israel’s decision, DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, noted that Byneveldt was an ambassador to the State of Palestine, and not Israel. South Africa does not currently have an embassy in Israel.

“Israel's obstructionism forces a farcical arrangement where he is accredited through the very state that occupies his host country. This underscores Israel's refusal to honour international consensus on Palestinian statehood,” Phiri said.

SA Jewish Board of Deputies outraged

Briefly News also reached out to the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) following DIRCO's original decision against Seidman.

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The SAJBD's National Chairperson, Professor Karen Milner, expressed outrage at the decision, saying that it was a 'troubling escalation in South Africa’s increasingly hostile diplomatic posture.'

"The decision to expel an Israeli diplomat over social media posts and alleged procedural oversights stands in stark contrast to South Africa's wilful blindness toward ongoing international atrocities.

"While DIRCO claims to champion diplomatic norms and human rights, it has consistently applied these principles selectively. This glaring inconsistency exposes the hypocrisy at the heart of DIRCO’s actions," she said.

Professor Milner added that the South African government remained silent on serious human rights abuses, like the situation in Iran and war crimes in Sudan.

"It is also notable that, as a ceasefire holds in the Middle East, the opportunity for South Africa to contribute to peace is again ignored. Unlike DIRCO, South Africa's Jewish community remains committed to constructive dialogue on all matters affecting our country and global conflicts. This is not a time to silence voices or close doors," she added."

Other stories about Israel and SA relations

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DIRCO declares Israel's Chargé d'Affaires persona non grata

Briefly News reported that there have been some issues between Israel and South Africa of late, with the Abathembu King, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, at the centre of it.

• King Dalindyebo and a delegation from the AbaThembu visited Israel in December 2025.
• Julius Malema confirmed that King Dalindyebo was no longer a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) following his visit to Israel.
• Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane slammed King Dalindyebo and the Israeli Embassy over their visits to provincial institutions.

Source: Briefly News