President Cyril Ramaphosa met the family of South Africa-born Israeli soldier Capt Daniel Perez, after the South African government intervened to facilitate the release of his remains from Hamas, the presidency said.The government said its intervention in Perez’s case formed part of broader efforts to assist South Africans affected by conflicts abroad. These include facilitating the release of citizens trapped during the war in Syria and South Africans who were sold to Russian mercenaries. Perez was born in Johannesburg and raised in Glenhazel before his family moved to Israel in 2014. He was taken hostage and killed during the October 7 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas. “The South African government remains engaged in assisting all South Africans, irrespective of race or religion, that are ensnared in conflict zones as well as assisting other foreign nationals where such support is requested,” presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.“President Ramaphosa expresses his condolences to the Perez family and affirms South Africa’s support for an all-inclusive peace process that will deliver a lasting peace for the people of Israel and Palestine.”PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA MEETS DANIEL PEREZ FAMILY FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONPresident @CyrilRamaphosa has met with the family of the late Captain Daniel Perez following the intervention of the South African government in facilitating the release of his remains by Hamas.… pic.twitter.com/138nm0kLM6— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 10, 2026