PRETORIA – The South African government has not yet made a final decision on whether it will shut down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola confirmed during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.
The embassy remains downgraded pending Cabinet deliberations. Lamola told MPs that the matter is still under internal government processes and no external influence will determine the outcome.
Cabinet, he said, holds the sole authority to either maintain the current diplomatic posture or fully sever diplomatic ties with Israel. 
“We are preparing a memorandum to submit to Cabinet. Once a decision is made, the Department will carry it out. But for now, the embassy remains downgraded,” Lamola said.
The downgraded embassy allows only limited services such as visa facilitation, but does not engage in full diplomatic, political, or economic affairs between the two nations.
Lamola would not confirm if economic sanctions against Israel are being considered. However, he said Cabinet could explore that route if deemed necessary.
The minister also pointed to the government’s ongoing legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and reiterated South Africa’s support for a two-state solution. He called for an end to hostilities in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has warned that closing the Israeli embassy could hurt South Africa’s trade prospects and diminish investor confidence.
Wendy Kahn, the SAJBD’s national director, said the move would be unjust, politically motivated, and ultimately counterproductive. “This could greatly undermine the country’s foreign investment prospects. South Africa should be promoting dialogue and understanding,” she said.
Kahn also noted the negative effects of having no South African embassy in Israel, with many citizens stranded without consular support.
South Africa downgraded its diplomatic presence in Israel in 2018 amid growing tensions, and since then, relations between Pretoria and Tel Aviv have deteriorated further. Cabinet is expected to make a decision by the end of the year.
