During a media briefing on Thursday night, Mkhize said initially 84 sites where being scouted as possible quarantine zones for people who are being repatriated from China amidst fear of the coronavirus.

OFM News previously reported that the hotel outside Bloemfontein in the Free State, with a landing strip 6,7km away, was amongst the venues being scouted as a possibility where the returning South Africans could be placed for the prescribed 21-day quarantine period. Black Mountain General Manager, Peter Leonard, at the time told OFM News that he does not want to comment.

Mkhize said a number of the rooms in the hotel did not fit the situation and that SANDF was not sure if the size of the runway could handle the flight.

This, after President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced that over 100 South Africans who are stranded in Wuhan city in Hubei province, China, will be brought back home. This, while 62 Free State students are in self-imposed isolation in the same province and might make up the bulk of those who return to South Africa. 

 So far 24 cases have been confirmed by Mkhize and no deaths have been reported. Furthermore, the army identified the Ranch Hotel and Resort in Polokwane to be a suitable area to quarantine the 122 South Africans who will be repatriated today.

OFM News