Release Mandla Mandela, Gaza flotilla activists, Ramaphosa tells Israel
The EFF has demanded that South Africa take diplomatic and legal measures to hold ‘apartheid state of Israel’ accountable.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the State of Israel to immediately release South African nationals and other activists abducted during the violent interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Thursday, 2 October 2025.
The flotilla, comprising humanitarian vessels, was seeking to deliver aid to Gaza, but was captured by Israeli military forces in international waters off the coast of the genocide-affected region.
Mandela: Gaza bound with aid before abduction
Among the prominent South Africans detained is former member of Parliament and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, who recorded a video confirming his “abduction by the aparate state of Israel” and calling for the South African government to “exact pressure for my immediate release”.
Ramaphosa said the interception reinforced Israel’s continued violation of international law, as it occurred in international waters and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown.
The president stressed that this action also violates an International Court of Justice (ICJ) injunction that demands humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded.
Ramaphosa also called the interception “another grave offence by Israel of global solidarity and sentiment” and stated his expectation that Israel will release the human rights activists immediately, as their abductions serve “no purpose”.
EFF condemns Israel
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned the seizure in the “strongest terms”. The EFF, referring to Israel as the “apartheid state of Israel” and argued that the detention of citizens like Mandela, writer Zukiswa Wanner, human rights advocate Reeaz Moola and Dr Fatima Hendricks is “not only an affront to human rights, but a direct attack on our nation and its people”.
Other South Africans who are part of the flotilla are reportedly Nurain Saloojee, Jared Sacks, Zaheera Soomar, Elham Mouaffak-Hatfield, Fazel Behra and Irshaad Chotia.
The party demanded that South Africa pursue strong diplomatic, legal, and political measures to secure the release of its citizens and hold Israel accountable.
The EFF further stated that the interception has only deepened global resistance to Israel’s “genocide in Gaza” and exposed the “illegitimacy of its actions”. They concluded that Israel has revealed its “fear of truth and humanity” by attacking even peaceful acts of international solidarity.