URGENT: South Africans Stuck in the Maldives Could Get Chartered Flight Home to SA

South Africans who are stranded in the Maldives, where the imminent closure of resorts is expected until June, are urged to contact the Honorary Consulate (details below) to be added to a chartered flight home to South Africa. The more who join the less the costs will be.

According to Stuart Trenoweth from Joburg, who is on honeymoon in the Maldives with his wife Tanya Viljoen, they are currently stranded at “a beautiful but ghostly resort” because their flights home – before the lockdown – were cancelled twice. BUT it’s not all doom and gloom.

Yesterday the Honorary South African consulate set up a WhatsApp group for those who wish to return home (called ‘SA charter passengers’), and amazingly – with help from people on the ground in South Africa – has managed to get clearance from both the Maldivian government and South Africa for a charter flight to leave the Maldives!

The flight is due to refuel in Mauritius (no disembarking for the South Africans) and land at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.

“It however comes with a huge cost,” says Stuart, “So they are busy confirming numbers and trying to see if they can get clearance from the Mauritius government to let Mauritius nationals also catch the plane to share costs.

“Right now it’ll cost close to $5,000 per person to come home. Which a lot of us cannot afford.”

The consulate is seeking a list of South Africans with work permits in the Maldives, to make contact and see if they want to return home, says Stuart.

Stuart says at the moment it’s mostly SA tourists on the group.

“As far as I can see from the other groups of stranded South Africans in Asia, nobody else has managed to get this far,” he says.

The South Africans have until 31 March (Tuesday) to confirm the flight.

Stuart says: “There are 40 tourists here who are busy deciding. Main reasons is the cost and quarantine procedures when we get back.

“We are desperately searching for anybody else who wants to get home that may be working here. Rumour has it that the resorts will all shut down soon until June. If that is true then I’m sure there are lots more (South Africans) that we can include onto this flight.”

Stuart says the operation is being arranged by the honorary consulate in the Maldives and private SA citizens. “Their priority is to get the Saffas in Maldives home,” he says.

There are a total of active 198 South African visa holders in the Maldives – 40 tourists, 128 with work visas, and 30 with other categories of visa. It’s urgent that this message gets to all of them before 31 March.

If you are in the Maldives and would like to return to South Africa:

Please visit this link: https://bit.ly/2xtBphG

OR email: m.ali@sahc.com.mv and/or aminath@sahc.com.mv

Once your details are submitted, the consulate will add you to the group on WhatsApp.

It is quite urgent says Stuart “as it seems people are pushing for this once-off chartered flight to leave 1 April”.

Please let any South Africans in the Maldives know about this. Stuart says: “Any help would be so much appreciated! We just want to come home…”