Ramaphosa meets family of slain Israeli soldier Daniel Perez

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the family of a South African-born Israeli soldier on Monday, following what the presidential office described as government intervention to help secure the return of his remains from Gaza. The meeting with the parents of Captain Daniel Perez took place in Pretoria, with the presidency stating it was facilitated by South Africa's efforts.

Captain Perez, who was born in Johannesburg and raised in the Glenhazel neighborhood, was killed during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He was 22 years old and serving as a tank platoon commander near the Nahal Oz military base when his unit was overrun after fighting for more than two hours. His body was taken into Gaza and remained there until it was returned to Israel on October 13, 2025. The Israeli military had initially listed him as a hostage, but in March 2024, it informed his family that evidence established he had been killed on October 7 and that his body was being held by Hamas.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said President Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the Perez family during the meeting. Magwenya added that the president affirmed...