Africa-Press – South-Africa. All South Africans who were stuck in conflict-torn Sudan have been safely evacuated, according to Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) spokesperson Clayson Monyela.
“Evacuations like this are never easy and face multiple difficulties and frustrations. The South African nationals who were at Port Sudan managed to cross into Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and were received by our consul general and his team who facilitated on-ground support,” he said.
He added that those who were evacuated from Khartoum by bus crossed the border into Egypt.
The South Africans are expected to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport at 16:15.
“The government paid for two buses. The Gift of the Givers [Foundation, which was] not on the ground but coordinated with our officials, paid for an extra bus. The government has booked all into hotels in Egypt.”
The government will pay for their flight tickets as well, he said.
According to Gift of the Givers Foundation chairperson and founder Imtiaz Sooliman, eight South Africans and an American man and his daughter, who is a also a South African, are on their way to a ferry from the Egyptian border.
“We hope they make the ferry tonight (Saturday night) and from there onwards, to Aswan.”
Sooliman thanked the diplomatic staff who travelled for several hours to two different borders, and arranged paperwork.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
