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Coronavirus: Concerns raised for 85 South Africans ‘left behind’ in China
DIRCO have been accused of “inconsistency” over the way they’ve handled the return of South Africans from China, following the coronavirus outbreak.
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On Monday, we saw footage of students and teachers gleefully coming home to South Africa from China, after they had been isolated from the outside world following the outbreak of the coronavirus. But despite their triumphant return, there are still dozens of SA citizens marooned in exposed parts of the Asian powerhouse.
China is very much “ground zero” for coronavirus cases. Of the 2 000-plus deaths attributed to the outbreak, an overwhelming majority of them have occurred here. Quarantines and isolation zones have been set up to limit the spread of the disease, and it has made life a living nightmare for some of our overseas workers.
South Africans “left behind” in coronavirus-hit China
Darren Bergman is the shadow minister of international relations. He revealed in a recently-issued statement that almost 100 South Africans pleaded to be evacuated from China, but have heard nothing from the relevant authorities. The DA representative is livid with the “uncooperative” South African Embassy, too:
“We’ve been in contact with officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to inform them of around 85 South Africans who are currently stuck in China, despite them wanting to be evacuated and returned to South Africa in light of the outbreak of the coronavirus.”
“The South African Embassy in China’s response to coronavirus has been far from perfect with allegations of aggression, lack of communication and another closure until further notice without any SA contact numbers shared. The DA implores officials to be more supportive of the South Africans who are left behind.”
Darren Bergman
Naledi Pandor told to act
Bergman is now imploring DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor to take action, and show some consistency when it comes to keeping our fellow compatriots safe from the coronavirus. The MP also says that provisions must be put in place for anyone returning to SA from China, suggesting that they must be screened at an airbase.
“Naledi Pandor must make an urgent statement to Parliament, as to why only half the South African community in China were assisted out of the country and the other half has been left to their own devices. People returning to the country must be put under quarantine for 14 days at the Waterkloof Airforce Base.”
Darren Bergman
