Human trafficking could be among the reasons behind the arrival of the Palestinian families in SA as the organisation that handled the departure is unregistered and facilitated the travel irregularly and irresponsibly.

According to the Cape Times, the group of 153 Palestinian refugees arrived in SA on a chartered flight from Kenya to seek asylum in the country, although they were initially denied entry due to a lack of proper documentation.

They waited for nearly 12 hours at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to be cleared or turned away. 

They were granted entry under a 90-day visa exemption on humanitarian grounds.

The Embassy of Palestine in SA said the organisation, Al-Majd Europe, that facilitated the departure is unregistered.

‘The unregistered and misleading organisation deceived families, collected money from them and facilitated their travel in an irregular and irresponsible manner. This entity later attempted to disown any responsibility once complications arose,’ the embassy said.

Senior Researcher at the Mapungubwe Institute, Naeem Jennah, said although legal representatives were trying to make a determination, they believed this could amount to human trafficking.

The organisation allegedly told the families they were heading to Indonesia and Malaysia. He said by not providing travelling documentation, there was no proof the families left Gaza.

Al-Majd Europe describes itself as a humanitarian organisation founded in Germany and based in East Jerusalem.

However, it is registered in Estonia and operates through a front consulting company.

The organisation reportedly offered ‘evacuation’ for a fee, ranging from approximately $1 400 to $2 000 per person, to various destinations, including SA, without passengers knowing their final destination.

Full Cape Times report