Call for more effort to assist South Africans stranded abroad
'The process of repatriation is not easy, given the various restrictions implemented by countries worldwide' - Naledi Pandor
THE Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has called for more efforts to ensure that no South African is stranded abroad.
Chairperson Tandi Mahambehlala said that, while they are satisfied with the work done by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) during the period of Covid-19, more needs to be done to assist distressed, destitute and stranded citizens.
This comes as the department continues negotiations on the repatriation of the remains of an Eastern Cape medical student, Sibusiso Qongqo, who died in Cuba.
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DIRCO said there were challenges related to flights from Cuba owing to the travel restrictions imposed worldwide during the pandemic.
Mahambehlala has, however, raised concerns about how multilateral diplomacy has become increasingly undermined, with threats posed by countries that adopt nationalistic approaches in response to the global pandemic.
‘It is only the international solidarity and collective multilateral response that will be effective, because no country can address a global challenge of the magnitude of the Covid-19 crisis on its own,’ she said in a statement today (Thursday).
DIRCO has, so far, facilitated the repatriation of more than 5 000 South Africans stranded abroad.
The department is aware of many others who remain stranded, but it is appealing for patience while options are explored and negotiations made.
‘The process of repatriation is not easy, given the various restrictions implemented by countries worldwide,’ said DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor.
‘The process involves a lot of negotiations with multiple stakeholders, which explains why we couldn’t repatriate some as speedily as we wished.
‘To properly coordinate this process, my department has established a Command Centre, which operates 24 hours a day to help those who were unable to reach our missions abroad.
‘South Africans abroad requiring repatriation have been encouraged to contact our embassies to enable the department to assess the demand in each country.’
Contact the 24-hour DIRCO Command Centre on +27 12 351 1754 or +27 12 351 1756 or email Cicc1@dirco.gov.za or Cicc2@dirco.gov.za.
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