South African author and activist Zukiswa Wanner has returned home following her detention by Israeli forces. She arrived in Johannesburg on October 8 alongside other South African participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission that attempted to reach Gaza.

The flotilla, comprising dozens of vessels with participants from more than 40 countries, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces while traveling in international waters. Those on board were detained, triggering diplomatic efforts and widespread calls for their release from governments and civil society groups across multiple continents.

Israeli authorities began releasing detainees in stages from October 3 onward. South Africa’s foreign affairs department coordinated the return of its citizens through Jordan, arranging their safe passage home after confirming their wellbeing while in custody.

Upon landing at OR Tambo International Airport, the returning activists received an enthusiastic reception. Delegation leader Mandla Mandela told reporters the group faced difficult treatment during detention, which he attributed to South Africa’s ongoing legal challenge against Israel at the International Court of Justice over alleged violations in Gaza.

In her first public remarks after returning, Wanner emphasized that attention should remain focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza rather than on the released flotilla participants. She described the detention as a kidnapping that occurred in international waters and drew parallels between current events and historical apartheid, calling for continued international documentation and action.

According to Writing Africa, Zukiswa Wanner issued the following statement:

“The five other South Africans and I who were kidnapped in international waters by the apartheid Israeli government are fortunate to be back with our families. This is far more than can be said for the more than 11,000 Palestinians who have been taken hostage by the same regime — many of them children.

We ask that our release not be a distraction. The starvation, genocide, ecocide, and scholasticide of the people of Gaza must remain the focus. The world must continue documenting the crimes of apartheid Israel, as we shall all need to bear witness on the Day of Judgment.

With our flotilla now intercepted within the last 24 hours, it is even clearer how cruel the apartheid Israeli government is. We urge governments around the world to act to end the starvation and catastrophe that the people of Palestine have endured for 77 years — a tragedy that has only recently come to wider global attention.”

— Zukiswa Wanner
October 8, 2025, Johannesburg

Wanner has been vocal in her support for Palestinian rights since attending the Palestine Festival of Literature in 2023. That visit led her to write a book examining life under occupation and comparing it to South Africa’s apartheid system. She also chronicled her journey on the flotilla before the interception occurred.