Dear Honourable Minister Dr Naledi Pandor,

We are writing to you to express our grave concern over new evidence that has emerged of South Africans serving in the Israel 'Defense' Forces (IDF) to commit war crimes against the Palestinian people.

We are aware that the following South Africans have violated South African laws to serve in the IDF and participate in Israel’s horrific genocide against Palestinians:
Jaime Locketz serves as a member of the IDF’s Operational Situation Desk at the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
Benjamin Rattle has been on the ground in Gaza as a member of the IDF’s notorious Golani Brigade from October 2023 until now, committing genocide for Israel.


In December 2023, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed that South Africans serving in the IDF face consequences of violating South African laws, which include:

The Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act: prohibits South Africans from offering "any foreign military assistance” to another state without an approved application from the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans.

The South African Citizenship Act: states that a South African will no longer be a citizen if they engage in a war for another country that the Republic does not agree with.

The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans confirmed it has never received or approved any applications from people seeking to join the IDF.

South Africans serving in the IDF are therefore violating the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, this amounts to a crime against the state. Locketz, Rattle and all other South Africans illegally serving in the IDF must be prosecuted for serving in Israel’s genocidal army.

In addition, DIRCO has taken the brave and just stance to support the Palestinian people against Israel’s horrific genocide at the International Court of Justice. Our country rightly does not support Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.

Honourable Minister, you have publicly stated your support for the Department of Justice to take action against South Africans serving in the IDF. In February 2024, you stated: “So the government must identify these people [who contravene the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act] and take action”.

We ask you to direct this evidence to the Minister of Justice, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Minister of Home Affairs and other relevant government stakeholders for immediate action, and to urge law enforcement to make the necessary arrests.

As examples of many other South Africans participating illegally in the genocide against the Palestinian people, we call on the South African government to urgently:

1. Extradite Jaime Locketz and Benjamin Rattle

2. Revoke their South African citizenship

3. Prosecute them!

It is imperative that we as citizens know how you will take this evidence forward. We will shortly follow up with your office to learn of the outcomes of this petition.

Yours in solidarity