South African government seeks release of Mandla Mandela as SAMA severs ties with Israeli counterpart

While the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) is said to be working behind closed doors to secure the release of Mandla Mandela and four other South African captives held hostage by Israeli forces, the Healthcare Workers 4 Palestine South Africa (HCW4P-SA) has welcomed the South African Medical Association's (SAMA) decision to suspend its relations with the Israeli Medical Association (IMA).

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa has demanded the “immediate and unconditional” release of Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, after Israeli forces reportedly detained him and four other South Africans during a recent humanitarian flotilla mission to Gaza.

On Sunday, just as the South African government was holding talks with the Israeli government in a bid to secure the release of the five South Africans, including Carolyn Shelver, Dr Zaheera Soomar, Reaaz Moola, and Dr Fatima Hendricks, HW4P South Africa welcomed the hard-line taken by SAMA.

"South Africa (HCW4P-SA) welcomes and salutes the South African  Medical Association (SAMA) for its formal suspension of all relations with the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), and its call for the suspension of the IMA from the World Medical Association (WMA). The precedent set by this action is significant and demonstrates tremendous integrity, moral courage, and genuine transformation from South Africa’s legacy of Apartheid," it said.

Mandela is among more than 400 activists, including author Zukiswa Wanner, who are being held hostage by Israeli forces after they were abducted from a humanitarian flotilla mission to Gaza.

"On behalf of our government and nation, I call on Israel to immediately release the South Africans abducted in international waters, and to release other nationals who have tried to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid. The flotilla's interception in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla," President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the weekend.

The flotilla, a collective effort to deliver critical aid to the population of Gaza, recently faced swift action from Israeli forces, intensifying concerns over the safety and legality of humanitarian missions in contested waters.

On Saturday, blogger and podcaster James Murua called out to the Kenyan government and the African Union (AU) to help secure the release of Wanner and the other hostages.

The revered journalist and author was reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 2, after the Israeli military intercepted over 40 Global Sumud Flotilla boats carrying aid to Gaza.

Reports indicate that they are part of more than 450 foreign activists who were taken captive by the Israeli forces.

"In any other situation, I wouldn’t be worried about the safety of my partner, but the Israelis have shown singular cruelty to anyone who stands in the way of their mission to eradicate Palestinians from the face of the earth," Murua stated.

The South African delegation joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of participants from 44 countries who had travelled to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, with media reports suggesting that hostages were prevented from medical assistance, with only water provision coming after more than 30 hours.

Reacting to media reports of a possible release or deportation of South African hostages, Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri  was not able to confirm this.

"Please look out for an update that we intend to provide as soon as we can," Phiri said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za