'Free Mandela once again': South Africans demand release of flotilla detainees

"End the killing! End the pain! Free Mandela once again!"

This is the chant that echoed across Cape Town on Thursday morning as protesters demanded the release of several South African activists, including Nkosi Zwelivelile "Mandla" Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, who were taken captive by Israeli troops during their storming of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

On Wednesday, Israeli troops intercepted more than a dozen vessels that were part of the civilian-led maritime flotilla aiming to break the siege of Gaza.

The Israelis abducted several activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, the climate justice activist who has been a prominent critic of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Along with Mandela, several other South Africans were abducted, including activists Dr Fatima Hendricks, Zukiswa Wanner, Dr Zaheera Soomar, Reaaz Moola, Basheerah Soomar and Carolyn Shelver. 

On Thursday, South Africans took to the streets of Cape Town to express their outrage over the raid and the genocide. 

South Africa's Palestine Solidarity Campaign described Israel's actions as an "abhorrent act of abduction, piracy and violence against unarmed civilians in international waters", which it said "constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and an affront to basic human decency".

"Israel's actions confirm its rogue state status - ignoring repeated international legal rulings, including binding provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that call for unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza," the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.

Outrage among activists

With more than 500 activists from over 44 countries aboard its 40 vessels, the Global Sumud Flotilla is considered the largest civilian-led maritime convoy in history.

The flotilla set sail to break Israel's illegal blockade in a bid to deliver urgent and vital aid to Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians since its genocide in Gaza began in October 2023.

Close to two million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced - many several times over - while Israel's deliberate obstruction of aid has created conditions of famine across the Gaza Strip.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said the interception of the flotilla is "another grave offence" by Israel against "global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza and advancing peace in the region".

Ramaphosa added that the raid in international waters violated a January 2024 International Court of Justice ruling that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded.

But Roshan Dadoo, coordinator of the South African BDS Coalition, an anti-Israeli occupation group, told Middle East Eye that it was time South Africa's government did more than issue statements.

"We reiterate the call made by Zukiswa Wanner - South African writer and activist - who is one of those kidnapped from the boats by genocidal Israel: South Africa must implement its legal obligations and hold Israel accountable," Dadoo said.

Dadoo called on Ramaphosa's government to follow the South African parliament's motion to sever ties with Israel. In November 2023, it voted for a motion calling for the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria.

The resolution is non-binding and thus requires the South African president to implement it. 

"As South Africans, we refuse to be held complicit in genocide - our government must declare a coal embargo and stop coal sales to Israel, used to fuel the genocide and illegal occupation, as Colombia has done," Dadoo said.