Embassy in Contact: All 23 South Africans Accounted for in Tense Venezuela

The South African government has confirmed that all 23 of its citizens in Venezuela are safe, following heightened international tension after recent United States military action in the South American nation. The group, comprised mostly of teachers, has been accounted for by the South African Embassy in Caracas.

Clayson Monyela, Head of Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), stated that embassy staff are safe and maintaining direct contact with the nationals on the ground. “All accounted for and safe,” Monyela confirmed. He added that authorities would “continue to monitor the situation,” which is currently reported as calm, as a standard precaution.

A Firm Diplomatic Condemnation

The safety update comes alongside a firm diplomatic rebuke from Pretoria. DIRCO strongly condemned the US military strikes, labelling them a “manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations.” The department asserted that the UN Charter mandates all member states to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state and called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the situation.

South Africa’s position emphasises its commitment to a principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations, a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

Monitoring Amid Uncertainty

While no evacuation plans have been announced, diplomatic and consular channels remain on high alert should the security situation deteriorate. The US operation has intensified concerns over regional stability in a country already plagued by years of political crisis, economic collapse, and stringent international sanctions.

For now, the 23 South Africans, along with embassy personnel, are secure. Their safety is a immediate priority, but their situation remains intertwined with a much larger and volatile geopolitical standoffone that Pretoria is watching closely from both a humanitarian and a principled diplomatic stance.

{Source: IOL}

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