Carletonville family and other SAFFAS stranded in Indonesia
Another week has passed for the 137 South Africans stranded in Bali, Indonesia. They still don’t have an idea when they will be heading home. They are worried about their families, their animals, their own sanity… Still, they are trying their best to stay positive.
Stacey Peacock from Carletonville in an email to Vaalweekblad said: “Money is tight and the cost of living is becoming unbearable due to the weakening rand. We have always been so proud, so having to accept money from family has been a tough pill to swallow. We are normally on the giving end.”
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They are desperate to come home. She said last week there was a possibility of a charter flight that fell through the cracks due to a lack of numbers. “We are currently waiting for the embassy to get back to us on developments regarding the repatriation from SAA, once again we have completed forms etc, so holding thumbs.”
Stacey has also sent two videos saying: “The one is of our group stranded in Indonesia and the other of my daughter, Ashlee. People need to know that this is serious.” These videos show a group of South Africans from all walks of life, some of them struggling with serious chronic health problems, just wanting to come home… it’s heartbreaking to watch.
Meanwhile the Department of International Relations & Coperations said in the Repatriation of South African Citizens Newsletter of 27 April 2020 that negotiations and arrangements continue in earnest to repatriate all destitute South Africans.
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According to the newsletter:
- Most South Africans stranded in Europe have been evacuated. There are a few South Africans still stranded in Portugal as they were unable to make it to Frankfurt for repatriation flights.
- Around 1 164 South Africans remain stranded in Asia, primarily in Thailand, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Malaysia. Three South Africans are also stranded in Nepal. Around 400 South Africans are stranded in Australia.
- In Africa, around 376 South Africans are still stranded in Cote d’ Ivoire, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and Zambia.
- Despite a charter flight repatriating over 300 South Africans from the USA, around 300 more remain stranded.
The Minister Naledi Pandor is quoted to have said: “We are making every effort to support the return of South Africans who find themselves stranded overseas. We are working closely with governments. Some are very reluctant to allow flights in because they too are in lockdown. We’ve had to exercise patience, it is a matter of negotiation. We are really working hard at this. It is a very challenging situation.”
