South African Global Sumud Flotilla activists have landed at the OR Tambo International Airport from Jordan. They were abducted by the Israeli forces on their way to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and stop the Israeli blockade.

The families of the activists are relieved that they are back home today. Their families are at the airport to welcome them back home.

Jama Mukwa says he’s happy his mother came back alive. “I’m just glad that, you know, with the people that have been there, no one has been harmed, no one has been killed, you know, and it’s just glad to, I’m glad to be able to welcome her home. We were worried. Collectively, we were all worried because there was obviously the possibility that things could end horribly, you know. We know that a couple of years back, there was actually a drone attack that happened on one of the flotillas. Ten or eleven people were killed, if I’m not mistaken, so we were just hoping that there wasn’t going to be a repetition of that.”

#FlotillaSAactivists

The wife of Mandla Mandela, Rabia is at OR Tambo International Airport with other family members.
The aircraft has landed and the SA activists are currently disembarking.#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/P8hchFzdlf

— Chriselda Zozi Lewis (Babes Wendaba) (@Chriseldalewis) October 8, 2025

SA Flotilla activists back home after bid to break Gaza siege – Chriselda Lewis reports

Mandela

The activists, including former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, were abducted in international waters while on their way to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, says the family is relieved that the Israeli forces have released the Flotilla activists.

“Mandla is a married man. He has children. I think we are all happy that nothing has actually happened to them. On the news, it says Gretha was tortured severely. I’m sure others were also tortured, not just Gretha. Because you can’t predict what the Zionists have done to them, and so we are grateful.”