Home Affairs: Palestinian refugees entered under 90-day visa exemption

The Department of Home Affairs has provided an official update on the arrival and processing of 153 travellers from Palestine at O.R. Tambo International Airport. South African Daily reported that the passengers were held on board a chartered flight for more than 13 hours due to immigration clearance issues.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, on Friday said the travellers arrived from Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday, 13 November 2025. Officials from the Border Management Authority (BMA) processed the passengers through standard immigration procedures. During this process, BMA officials noticed that some passports lacked departure stamps, and several travellers did not have return tickets or addresses for their accommodation in South Africa.

Ordinary Palestinian passport holders are permitted 90-day visa-exempt access to South Africa. Entry is subject to security and verification procedures, including measures to protect travellers. In this case, the identified discrepancies meant the BMA could not immediately allow the travellers entry. Vulnerable passengers were moved to air-conditioned buses while further verification took place.

The Department of Home Affairs said it engaged with the Palestinian embassy and other relevant role-players. The investigation confirmed that the absence of stamps, return tickets, and accommodation details did not indicate that the travellers were applying for asylum. Once it was established that the group would receive accommodation and care, the Minister of Home Affairs presented the information to the BMA Commissioner for review.

After confirming that the travellers would not be left destitute, they were allowed entry under the standard 90-day visa exemption. By the time entry was granted, 23 members of the group had already departed on onward flights. All travellers hold valid passports, and none have applied for asylum.

The Department noted a statement from the Palestinian embassy on Thursday, which said that the travel was arranged by an unregistered organization that exploited families in Gaza, collected money, and facilitated travel irregularly. The embassy added that the organization later attempted to avoid responsibility when issues arose.

The Department of Home Affairs said it will continue to work with the Palestinian embassy and South African security agencies to investigate these claims. The Minister stressed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the dignity of vulnerable travellers.

South African Daily reported that the chartered flight carrying 153 Palestinian refugees landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning. The passengers were kept on board for 13 hours due to immigration clearance issues. Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers criticised the handling of the travellers, describing the treatment as inhumane.

Gift of the Givers founder and chairman Imtiaz Sooliman said children on the flight were dehydrated and crying. He said a pregnant woman showed signs of distress and that passengers were not allowed to disembark or receive food for several hours. “One hundred and fifty-three refugees were sitting in the tunnel of OR Tambo International Airport for 13 hours,” Sooliman said.

Sooliman said medical needs were urgent and basic support was withheld. He added that lower-level officials were following immigration policies regarding exit stamps, but senior officials could have intervened earlier. Government intervention eventually allowed the passengers to disembark. Sooliman said assistance from President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior officials helped resolve the situation.

Gift of the Givers said the delay damaged South Africa’s international reputation, especially ahead of the G20 summit. The organisation noted that Israel had deliberately withheld exit stamps from the refugees’ passports.

The group thanked Deputy Director General of DIRCO Zane Dangor and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola for ensuring the refugees could enter South Africa. Gift of the Givers said it would continue to provide humanitarian support with civil society partners.

Social worker Nigel Branken, who was on board the flight, described difficult conditions. He said a nine-month pregnant woman was in pain and that many children were crying and sweating. Branken said some passengers wished to be reunited with family members abroad. One woman said she had lost 17 family members and sought to join relatives in Canada.

Branken also said several passengers expressed a desire to apply for asylum in South Africa but were prevented from doing so. He said this restriction may have been unlawful under South African law.

The Department of Home Affairs said it will continue to monitor the situation and work with other government departments and the Palestinian embassy to ensure the travellers’ safety and wellbeing. Officials emphasized that the travellers’ entry is fully in line with South African visa and immigration laws.

Dr Schreiber said the government remains committed to handling all vulnerable persons with care while ensuring compliance with immigration procedures. The Department said it will take further steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.