Cape Town – A group of 22 South Africans is reportedly stranded on a boat in Egypt after fleeing conflict-stricken Sudan.
This comes after 51 South Africans arrived back in the country on Sunday.
According to reports, chairperson and founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said the group had contacted the humanitarian organisation on Monday.
“The process of evacuating South Africans from Sudan is not over yet. Gift of the Givers received a call from a group of 22 South Africans caught up in Safaga port in Egypt. They went by boat from Port Sudan.
“The boat was chartered by the company that had employed the South Africans for a project that started in September last year with just two more weeks left for completion when the war started,” Times Live quoted Sooliman as saying.
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“They have been waiting in that boat in Egypt for the last three days for clearance so they could catch a flight from Cairo to South Africa. Unfortunately they have had to postpone the flight.”
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the department would intervene to get the required clearances, News24 reported.
“We are, however, glad that the group is out of Sudan and not in harm’s way. We are also noting that their employer has so far been responsive, covering all costs and ensuring that their employees are taken care of,” the report quoted Monyela as saying.
South African citizens were stranded in Sudan after the unrest began two weeks ago.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
