Over 250 Repatriated South Africans Left Stranded Without Food or Water at OR Tambo Airport Last Night

Over 250 South Africans found themselves stranded at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg last night after alleged confusion between ministers as to where the repatriated South Africans should be taken for their mandatory quarantine.

South African surfing champion Jordy Smith and his wife were on the plane, which had flown in from Washington DC.

Late last night, Jordy posted a message on social media, saying: “Had to leave the USA on a repatriation flight from Washington-JHB we have been stuck on the tarmac for 4 hours and counting. Still no information .. around 275 people. All stranded here #repatriationflight”

There were pleas for help on Facebook. In several messages, those in the group said that there was an elderly woman who urgently needed medical care. They said they were waiting in minibuses on the tarmac with no food or fresh water; and that the facility they were meant to be taken to had cancelled at the last minute.

Samantha Graham-Maré, from Home Away From Home – a group which has been helping the thousands of stranded South Africans around the world get home – posted an update seven hours after the group had landed, saying that they had finally been checked in to their quarantine facility.

“They have had no food or water since they landed. But, in typical South African fashion, they remain gracious and polite. We are a wonderful nation,” she said.

Over 1,500 South Africans have already been repatriated from around the world. A few have complained about “mouldy and shocking” quarantine conditions whilst others have praised the government for being “amazing” and compassionate. One said it is the luck of the draw where you end up, and thanked those airport employees who stood with ‘Welcome Home’ messages.

The DA’s Darren Bergman has also been thanked for his patience and help in setting up the Home Away From Home team, which has worked not only last night to help those stranded at OR Tambo, but throughout the past few weeks.

A spokesperson for the Public Works Department, Zara Nicholson, told News24 that the problem was that they received late notice, and that it had happened the previous day as well.

“The problem is that we keep getting notified on the day that people are arriving and that’s against the agreement supposed to be in place from a national joint committee, which is that Public Works must get 72 hours notice, so that we can procure and allocate sites properly,” Nicholson told News24.

WATCH Repatriated South Africans stranded at OR Tambo Airport

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