King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo of the AbaThembu kingdom has embarked on a high-profile visit to Israel as part of a delegation hosted by Israeli foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar. The Israeli embassy in South Africa confirmed the visit, noting that the delegation—comprising royal family members and church leaders—met with Sa’ar in Jerusalem on Monday.
Among those accompanying the king are Chief Apostle Caesar Nonqunga of the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ, his two children Princess Ntando and Prince Sinethemba, as well as several AbaThembu chiefs. The visit includes scheduled meetings with survivors of captivity and tours of communities near the Gaza border, where the group will be briefed on the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. They will also visit the Nova Festival site and Kibbutz Nir Oz, both central to the tragedy.
Israeli diplomat David Saranga, who welcomed the king, highlighted their previous discussions held in South Africa. He praised Dalindyebo’s willingness to engage directly, stating that the king had accepted an earlier invitation to “come and see with your own eyes” Israel’s realities beyond media narratives. Saranga encouraged the monarch to ask difficult questions and seek clarity, noting that the visit aims to provide an unfiltered understanding of Israel’s political and social complexities.
The trip comes at a sensitive moment for South Africa–Israel relations. Pretoria withdrew its diplomatic staff from Israel in 2023 and remains vocally aligned with Palestine, including its case at the International Court of Justice. Dalindyebo’s visit has drawn criticism online, with some accusing him of undermining South Africa’s foreign policy stance. Others have urged the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)—with whom the king is associated—to comment, given the party’s strong anti-Israel position.
Despite the controversy, the Israeli government views the visit as part of broader efforts to strengthen ties with leaders across Africa and beyond.