brazilians in south africa evacuate repatriated

Home » First Flight Leaves South Africa to Repatriate Over 300 Brazilians

First Flight Leaves South Africa to Repatriate Over 300 Brazilians

The first planeload of foreign nationals being repatriated back to their homeland has taken off from South Africa, following Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s announcement yesterday that amendments would be made to the Lockdown regulations, allowing for the repatriation of foreigners back to their countries, and of South African citizens and residents abroad, back home on […]

By Jenni Baxter
01-04-20 11:56
in Covid-19 News Updates for South Africa
brazilians in south africa evacuate repatriated

The first planeload of foreign nationals being repatriated back to their homeland has taken off from South Africa, following Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s announcement yesterday that amendments would be made to the Lockdown regulations, allowing for the repatriation of foreigners back to their countries, and of South African citizens and residents abroad, back home on approved flights.

brazilians in south africa evacuate repatriated
Screenshot from Flight Radar 24, taken at 11h19 SA time.

The Airbus A350-941 LA9519 took off from Johannesburg this morning at around 08h21, although it was scheduled to leave at 04h55, according to Flight Radar 24.

The over nine-hour flight is destined for Sao Paulo in Brazil, where it should land just after 13h00, says FlightRadar24.

Thousands of foreign tourists, and those in SA for business, found themselves trapped in SA when lockdown was announced just over 24 hours before its implementation at midnight on Thursday 26 March 2020. According to an embassy official, there were many Brazilian holiday makers in national parks around the country.

Local news station, eNCA, reports there were 321 Brazilians on the flight out of OR Tambo International Airport.

Minister Mbalula announced yesterday that repatriation of foreign nationals from South Africa back to their respective countries is now allowed provided the foreign countries charter their aircraft to SA without passengers except for crew; and that that crew is not allowed to disembark in SA.

Announcements are expected today for South Africans stranded around the world who wish to be evacuated back to SA. (Contact admin@sapeople.com if you are stranded abroad and unsure how to get home.)