South Africa has abruptly ended its long-standing 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians using ordinary passports, after intelligence agencies uncovered what they described as an orchestrated effort to exploit the system.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, recent investigations showed a pattern of deliberate misuse, prompting Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber to withdraw the exemption with immediate effect. The move follows a high-level probe triggered by the unexpected arrival of two privately chartered flights carrying Palestinian nationals in November.
Authorities were alerted when it emerged that nearly all passengers on the flights had arrived on one-way tickets and without the documentation required for short-term stays. Intelligence reports concluded that the exemption was being used not for tourism or brief visits, but to facilitate the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
