By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has welcomed South African Citizens who were evacuated from war-torn Sudan to the country.
Speaking at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, Pandor expressed delight at the return of the citizens.
“We thought that it is important that the people of South Africa see that all the nationals of South Africa that had indicated that they wish to return home are back home. We just want South Africa to be assured because all of us have been waiting for you to come back. We’re absolutely happy that able to return home safely,” said the Minister.
South African citizens were stranded in Sudan after the unrest began two weeks ago. The South African government worked closely with neighbouring countries as well as South African NGO, Gift of the Givers to ensure the safe return of citizens.
A total 53 individuals arrived on a flight back to South Africa earlier today.
Yesterday, 10 South Africans returned home.
She said a lot of organisation went into bringing home the country’s citizens.
“We had a joint committee that worked on evacuations,” she said of the committee made up of various government departments
A total 51 South Africans returned home from Sudan on Sunday. In addition to the 51 citizens, a Lesotho national and a Zimbabwean national were on board the flight bringing the number of those evacuated from Sudan to 53.
“We are really happy that you’re back home,” said the Minister who was flanked by fellow Cabinet Ministers. The Minister was accompanied by Home Affairs Minister, Dr, Aaron Motsoaledi and Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise.
However, the Minister said that she is concerned about the people of Sudan amid the ongoing conflict.
“We as government hope that we can play some role in bringing peace back to Sudan, because I don’t think we should dessert the people of Sudan. It is in South Africa’s policy that we must try wherever we can on our continent to silence the guns.
“We are unhappy when we see people suffering and so we will try to make every effort to really engage with the current conflict party in Sudan to persuade them to lay down arms to persuade them to work for peace, “she said.
“We must thank our state security agency and thank our diplomatic staff and officials in our Department of International Relations and Cooperation and of course must thank our ambassador to Sudan.”
Meanwhile humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers on Monday revealed there are still 22 South Africans who are stranded in Egypt after fleeing from war-torn Sudan.
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said they were only aware of a South African couple who had stayed behind in Egypt with their pets.
“So, my understanding from my report we got from the team yesterday is that everybody that we had on our database is home… except for one couple that we left in Egypt. This was their decision because they have got dogs the authorities were not very co-operative of letting those dogs get on the ferry.”
But Gift of the Givers’ Imtiaz Sooliman said they notified government immediately on the new information they received.
“The process of evacuating South Africans from Sudan is not over yet. Gift of the Givers received a call right now from a group of 22 South Africans caught up in Safaga Port in Egypt. We are busy forwarding this information to Dirco.”
International Relations is yet to comment on this latest development.