The South African government will immediately begin the withdrawal of all non-essential personnel from its embassy in Cairo, the international relations department said on Thursday.
“All non-essential personnel and families attached to the South African embassy in Cairo will be temporarily withdrawn until the situation allows for their return,” Clayson Monyela spokesperson for department said in a statement.
He said the embassy would, however, remain open and would continue rendering consular assistance to South Africans in Egypt.
Monyela said government had observed with concern the suspension of the constitution in Egypt and the “removal from office of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi”.
“Instability in Egypt may have far-reaching consequences on the already precarious political and economic situation in the country, as well as the North African region and Middle East,” the statement said.
The Egyptian Armed forces overthrew Morsi on Wednesday, declaring that he had failed the Egyptian people.
Morsi was toppled just a year after he was elected as first Egyptian democratically elected president.
Monyela said South Africa was opposed to all forms of unconstitutional change of government, in line with the AU Constitutive Act.
“We strongly encourage all Egyptians to resolve the present crisis through inclusive dialogue within the relevant national legal framework, that seeks to consolidate the democratic achievements made by the Egyptian people in January 2011,” Monyela said.
He urged South Africans intending to travel to Egypt to reconsider doing so.
