Gaza – Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, grandson of former president Nelson Mandela, and other South Africans detained by Israeli forces remain in “high spirits” despite their ordeal on the GSF Flotilla intercepted on Wednesday. Other detainees include Zukiswa Wanner, Reaaz Moolla, Zaheera Soomar, and Dr Fatima Hendricks.
Israel claimed the flotilla violated a naval blockade near the Gaza Strip, though it is unclear whether the boats entered the designated “danger zone.” Activists described the interception as illegal and a “brazen act of desperation.”
Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said a South African team met with the detainees at the Negev Israeli Prison facility on Sunday. “The delegation has confirmed the detainees are in good health and in high spirits. The necessary procedures for their safe passage and return home to South Africa are advancing steadily,” Phiri said.
Mandla Mandela told reporters from the prison, “We are holding on, supporting each other and keeping faith that we will return home soon.”
Mandla’s wife, Nosekeni Rabia Mandela, said the family has been “very emotional” since his detention. “There are a lot of nerves. We haven’t had any real credible information coming from the flotillas since the abduction. The last time I heard from my husband was at 6pm on Wednesday evening, and that was before the interception, before they were abducted by the Israeli military, and they were taken as captives.”
South Africa welcomed Hamas’ decision to release Israeli hostages under a US-led plan for Gaza and called on Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners, including children. Phiri said Pretoria is monitoring developments closely, aiming for a ceasefire and lasting peace, while asserting that sustainable peace cannot be built on the suppression of fundamental human rights.
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