Johannesburg – A chartered flight carrying 153 Palestinians landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, but only 130 were allowed into South Africa, after a tense 12-hour standoff with immigration authorities.
The group arrived on a Global Airways flight from Kenya, but many passengers lacked departure stamps in their passports, and could not immediately confirm their intended duration of stay or where they would stay in the country.
Initially, the travellers were denied entry. But after Gift of the Givers, a local aid organisation, committed to housing them, the Home Affairs Department reassessed.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed the decision, saying the remaining 130 were brought in under South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders.
No Asylum Requests, Says Home Affairs
Contrary to some reports, none of the travellers applied for asylum, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated.
They were admitted after verifying new assurances, particularly regarding their accommodation.
South African Government Points to Compassion
President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the decision, saying it was rooted in empathy: “They are people from a war-torn country … out of compassion, we must receive them.”
However, he also announced a formal investigation into how the flight was organised.
Questions About Organisers
There are serious concerns about who arranged the flight. The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa claims an unregistered organisation misled families in Gaza, collected money from them, and organised the travel in an “irregular and irresponsible manner.”
