By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has strongly condemned breach of Diplomatic Protocols and unauthorised engagements by AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo with Israeli Embassy officials.
The Israeli Embassy visited Walter Sisulu University and donated goods to public hospitals in the province.
Mabuyane rejected what he said was a “sinister deal” between Dalindyebo and Israel, accusing the Israeli government of trying to undermine the sovereign right of South Africa to manage its international affairs.
He said Dalindyebo had no mandate to interfere in the management of hospitals, including the sourcing of foreign assistance.
He added that the cooperation between government and international partners, as a rule should be initiated and managed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and National Treasury.
Mabuyane viewed attempts to bypass established protocol as “mischievous”.
He said while the Eastern Cape provincial government was committed to advancing international partnerships that supported development, investment, innovation, and service delivery for the benefit of Eastern Cape residents, these relations must be grounded in “mutual respect, adherence to diplomatic conventions, and respect for South Africa’s constitutional order”.
He stressed that no external entity had the right to bypass legitimate governmental structures or to engage with public institutions in a manner that compromised governance, accountability, or public trust.
Mabuyane has further directed the MEC for Health to investigate how departmental health officials accepted donations without following proper channels.
International relations between South Africa and Israel are tense, with South Africa withdrawn all its diplomatic staff in 2023.
Parliament voted in favour of a motion calling for the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria and the suspension of diplomatic ties as tension soar between the two countries over the Israeli assault on Gaza.
South Africa has accused Israel of committing war crimes and genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip, where Palestinian authorities have said more than 14,100 people have been killed in Israel’s air and ground assault since October 7.