South Africa has launched an official investigation into a mysterious chartered flight that transported 153 Palestinian refugees into the country without the required documentation, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.
President Ramaphosa told reporters that the group had unexpectedly arrived from Gaza after traveling through Nairobi, Kenya, despite major gaps in their travel records. He said that both the intelligence services and the Department of Home Affairs are conducting a thorough inquiry into how the passengers boarded the flight and why proper procedures were not followed.
The group of Palestinians was initially denied entry on Thursday because they lacked standard departure stamps and failed to complete mandatory interviews. After waiting for more than 10 hours at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South African authorities granted them a 90-day visa exemption as a humanitarian measure, allowing them temporary asylum.
The situation sparked widespread public attention and criticism from activists across the country, which has historically maintained strong support for the Palestinian cause.
In a statement, the Border Management Authority (BMA) revealed that officials detected multiple irregularities, including missing passport stamps, unclear travel histories, and the absence of return tickets or local accommodation details. By the time clearance was granted, 23 individuals had already boarded connecting flights to other destinations.
The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa later clarified on social media that the refugees had traveled from Gaza via Ramon Airport and then through Nairobi, without any prior coordination or notification. The embassy also stated that the flight had been arranged by an unregistered and misleading organization, raising further concerns about the circumstances of their travel.
South African authorities say the investigation will determine how the refugees were transported, who organized the operation, and whether any international laws or immigration procedures were violated.
