Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said the Israeli Embassy’s recent engagements with provincial institutions, without the approval of government, constituted a clear breach of diplomatic protocol and undermined cooperative governance, as well as the sovereignty of South Africa.

Mabuyane on Tuesday expressed concerns with reports of a visit by AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo and officials from the Embassy of Israel to public institutions within the province, including healthcare facilities and Walter Sisulu University, without the knowledge, consent, or support of the provincial government.

The Israeli Embassy visited Walter Sisulu University and donated goods to public hospitals in the province.

Mabuyane rejected what he said was a “sinister deal” between Dalindyebo and Israel, accusing the Israeli government of trying to undermine the sovereign right of South Africa to manage its international affairs.

He said Dalindyebo had no mandate to interfere in the management of hospitals, including the sourcing of foreign assistance.

He added that the cooperation between government and international partners, as a rule should be initiated and managed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the National Treasury.

Mabuyane viewed attempts to bypass established protocol as “mischievous”.

“… the conduct of foreign relations is a constitutional competency vested in the national sphere of government. Accordingly, any engagement between foreign diplomatic missions and organs of State must occur through established diplomatic channels and in line with national protocols, in close coordination with both national and provincial authorities,” he explained.

He said while the Eastern Cape provincial government was committed to advancing international partnerships that supported development, investment, innovation, and service delivery for the benefit of Eastern Cape residents, these relations must be grounded in “mutual respect, adherence to diplomatic conventions, and respect for South Africa’s constitutional order”.

He stressed that no external entity had the right to bypass legitimate governmental structures or to engage with public institutions in a manner that compromised governance, accountability, or public trust.

Mabuyane has further directed the MEC for Health to investigate how departmental health officials reportedly accepted donations without following proper channels.

He said the provincial government would engage relevant stakeholders, including national authorities, to ensure that appropriate measures were taken to safeguard the integrity of government processes, protect public institutions, and prevent any recurrence of such incidents.