The death of Lerato Lekganyane, daughter of late anti-apartheid activist Tlhaki Lekganyane, in an Israeli prison has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals within the Israeli justice system.

The Lekganyane family, who recently laid Tlhaki to rest, are now grappling with the devastating loss of their daughter, alleging that she was subjected to "gruesome cruelty" while incarcerated.

Details surrounding Lerato's arrest and subsequent death remain shrouded in mystery, with the South African government struggling to gather information due to the absence of a South African embassy in Israel.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas further complicates matters, making it difficult for Pretoria to provide consular services to South Africans in the country.

"The family informed us, yes. We no longer have an embassy in Israel. There’s also the added complication of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas," said Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

"Without personnel on the ground, it’s unfortunately not possible to provide the usual consular services to South Africans who get arrested like her in Israel."

The Lekganyane family has alleged that Lerato's basic human rights were violated during her imprisonment, and they are demanding an investigation into the circumstances that led to her death. They claim that the inhumane conditions within the prison, including alleged acts of cruelty, ultimately led to Lerato's demise.