HOME Affairs has revoked the 90-day visa exemption that previously allowed Palestinian passport holders to enter South Africa without a visa.
This move comes after two charter planes that touched down in South Africa last month, on 13 November, carrying about 153 Palestinians.
The passengers arrived in South Africa after fleeing their war-torn homes and leaving behind all their belongings in Gaza.
Home Affairs says the visa exemption is now cancelled for Palestinian travellers, so they'll need to apply for a visa like everyone else.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Shreiber, said: "Investigations into the incident found that the arrival of these charter flights was not intended to be a one-off but may be part of a broader ongoing effort to relocate Palestinians to other parts of the world."
He added that the investigation report revealed that a Dubai-based broker with officers in South Africa recently requested bulk quotations for additional charter flights to commence as soon as possible.
ALSO READ | Sisterhood Youth Foundation spreads love and hope!Opens in new window
"Withdrawing the Visa exemption is the most effective way to prevent further flights of this nature while ensuring that fide travellers from Palestine are safely able to visit South Africa without being subjected to abuse."
Schreiber said South Africa will not be complicit in any scheme to exploit or displace Palestinians from Gaza.
"When the most recent charter flight landed at OR Tambo International Airport, President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that the travellers may have been flushed out of Gaza."
He further said in the wake of the withdrawal of the visa exemption, his department will process any asylum applications submitted by the travellers who arrived on the two charter flights while upholding the terms of the 90-day exemption for those who do not seek asylum.
"Going forward, visa applications from bona fide Palestinian travellers will be processed accordingly, to enable them to visit South Africa. While any further attempts at abuse will be rejected."
