The Palestine Solidarity Alliance is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to explain whether South African law was considered when he met with the family of South African-born Israeli Defence Forces officer Daniel Perez.
In an open letter to the President, the organisation says it has written to the Presidency twice requesting a meeting but has not received a response.
The PSA says Perez was born in South Africa and moved to Israel with his family in 2014 before serving in the IDF.
The organisation is questioning whether Perez held South African citizenship or permanent residency when he joined the Israeli military, and whether authorisation was obtained under South Africa’s Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
The Act regulates foreign military assistance, including certain forms of direct participation in armed conflicts.
The PSA says it is not accusing Perez of criminal guilt but wants clarity on whether the law applied in his case and whether the matter was investigated if no authorisation was obtained.
The organisation also questions why the Presidency met with Perez’s family while, according to the PSA, there has not been similar engagement with Palestinian families who have lost relatives during the conflict in Gaza.
The PSA says it is seeking a meeting with Ramaphosa or an authorised representative, as well as a written response from the Presidency.
