South African officials have confirmed the imminent release of Mandla Mandela, the grandson of the late Nelson Mandela, following his detention by Israeli forces. Mr Mandela was participating in a high profile humanitarian mission to deliver aid to Gaza.
The government in Pretoria, along with flotilla organizers, has labelled his detention, and that of other activists, an “abduction” and an act of “piracy” carried out in international waters.
The incident unfolded last Thursday, 2 October 2025, when the Israeli Navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla. This large convoy consisted of dozens of civilian vessels carrying aid and approximately 500 activists from around the world.
The flotilla’s objective was to break the long standing maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip to deliver vital supplies.
Among the detainees were several South African nationals, including Mr Mandela, writer Zukiswa Wanner, and activist Reaaz Moolla. They were aboard a vessel when the Israeli navy moved to halt the convoy.
Israel has consistently defended its actions, asserting that the interception was necessary to maintain its naval blockade of Gaza, citing security concerns. Officials stated that the activists would be deported.
However, activists and the South African government argue that the interception of a civilian humanitarian mission in international waters constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.
This mission was intended as an act of solidarity, not a confrontation. Despite this, the Israeli National Security Minister defended the detentions, accusing the flotilla members of supporting terrorism.
“We knew from the outset that it was a perilous initiative, and we were not oblivious to the possibility of the current situation unfolding as it has.” Nosekeni Rabia Mandela, wife of Mandla Mandela
Following the interception, Mandla Mandela and the other South African detainees were taken to an Israeli prison facility. They faced nearly five days of detention before South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation secured confirmation of their release.
Claims of mistreatment and “dehumanizing” conditions were made by some deported European activists. Israel has strongly rejected these allegations, insisting that the detainees’ rights were respected.
Mr Mandela’s involvement in the mission is a continuation of his family’s deep rooted support for the Palestinian cause, a position first championed by his grandfather, Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela famously stated in 1997, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
Mandla Mandela, an African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament, has been a highly vocal supporter of the Free Palestine movement for years with his activism visible since at least 2017, when he travelled to the region to engage in dialogue about the struggle.
He frequently draws parallels between Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and the racial segregation experienced by Black South Africans under the apartheid regime and he was instrumental in mobilising the Global Sumud Flotilla, recalling that South Africa’s freedom was achieved through global solidarity.
His presence on the flotilla underscores Pretoria’s official policy, which recently saw South Africa take Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on charges of genocide.
