JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s government accused Israel on Tuesday of multiple diplomatic violations, alleging that official Israeli channels launched “insulting attacks” against President Cyril Ramaphosa and that Israeli officials failed to inform the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) about visits by senior Israeli representatives.
The allegations were set out in a government statement that cited two specific breaches: the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to attack Ramaphosa and a “deliberate failure” to notify DIRCO of purported visits by senior Israeli officials.
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DIRCO is South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry, responsible for coordinating diplomatic engagements, managing consular services and maintaining the government’s formal channels with foreign missions. In diplomatic practice, host governments typically expect prior notification of official visits by senior foreign representatives; South Africa framed the absence of such notice as a deliberate breach of established protocol.
The government statement did not detail when the alleged social media posts were published, which Israeli accounts were involved, or the identities and dates of the purported visits that went unreported. It also did not specify any immediate retaliatory measures or a timetable for further action.
South Africa has in recent years been outspoken on issues involving Israel and Palestine, and the latest formal complaint underscores continuing friction in relations. The government’s public characterization of official Israeli communications as “insulting attacks” is a notable escalation in tone for a formal diplomatic release.
The statement lodged by DIRCO represents a formal record of grievance that can be used to press for clarification, demand remedial steps or form the basis for future bilateral responses. Such complaints are often followed by requests for explanation through diplomatic notes, summons to embassies, or public rebuttals, though the statement itself stopped short of outlining any next steps.
There was no immediate detail in the statement about whether South Africa had sought to raise the matter directly with Israeli officials prior to issuing the public release, nor did the statement report a response from Israel.
South Africa’s comments are likely to draw attention from international observers monitoring diplomatic norms around social media use by official accounts and the protocols governing high-level visits. The government framed the conduct as both a breach of professional diplomatic practice and a personal affront to the head of state.
Further clarification may emerge if DIRCO publishes additional documents or if diplomatic channels between Pretoria and Jerusalem are reopened for direct discussions.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
