Passengers stranded on tarmac at OR Tambo Airport before being allowed to disembark after NGO steps in
More than 150 Palestinians — including children — were kept on their aircraft for about 12 hours by South African border authorities at O.R. Tambo International Airport before being permitted to disembark, officials confirmed.
According to the Border Management Authority, the delay was due to missing “customary departure stamps” in the passengers’ passports. None of them had declared an intention to apply for asylum, South African officials added.
The stand-off ended only after Gift of the Givers, a local humanitarian NGO, agreed to accommodate the travelers, prompting the Ministry of Home Affairs to permit their release.
Out of the 153 people on the chartered flight:
The flight, run by Global Airways, reportedly originated from Kenya.
Social worker Nigel Branken, who visited the plane, described “distress” among passengers: children crying in the heat, and no clarity on who organised the charter.
Why This Incident Matters
- South Africa has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause on the global stage.
- Critics say the prolonged detention on the tarmac raises questions about border policy, human rights, and transparency.
- International groups may now press South Africa to review how it handles such arrivals — especially when linked to humanitarian crises.
