South Africa
Ramaphosa wishes military well on their way to Wuhan─── 21:36 Tue, 10 Mar 2020
President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the military well in their mission to bring 122 South Africans back home from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan.
An SANDF team has embarked on a flight from OR Tambo to Wuhan to bring the South Africans home.
Ramaphosa and Health Minister Zweli Mhkize earlier did a tour of health and screening facilities at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
COVID 19 has claimed more than 4 000 lives globally, mostly in Wuhan.
The flight planned to depart at 9pm Tuesday evening.
President Ramaphosa has thanked the military and health officials for their willingness to execute the important mission.
On board the flight will be the aircraft crew, members of the National Defence Force as well as officials from the Department of Health.
The President told the soldiers that he remains proud of them in this very important mission to bring back 121 South Africans. He said their patriotism is what’s most touching to the nation.
The mission is the first of its kind in the country.
Mkhize, says none of the South Africans in China have coronavirus but they will still be quarantined and tested as part of health requirements when they arrive back home from Wuhan.
Mkhize says special precautions will be taken. “This team is going to go and fetch people who are well. We will keep screening them to check if we find someone has an infection, we will take them for treatment in the area where they are going to be quarantined. It’s just a health requirement that they come from an area that had a very high infection rate. We will want to watch for symptoms. If evidence of the virus doesn’t appear, when we are done with that we will test them again then we let them go home.”
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize had said that 184 South Africans in Wuhan had indicated that they wanted to return home.
Last week, Mkhize dismissed claims that SANDF members were refusing to evacuate the South Africans living in Wuhan.
Acting Health Director-General, Anban Pillay, says provision will be made for more South Africans who wish to return from the city of Wuhan in China. Pillay has provided details of the flight’s planned route and repatriation procedure.
“So the flight goes from Johannesburg to the Philippines, it has to refuel – they will have a stopover. I think 48 hours is what it’s going to be and they will move on to Wuhan. They will pick up the students, refuel and then fly non-stop back to South Africa. By the way they’re not only students there are also teachers and other people in the group as well. They have their meeting point which they’ve been using for other countries as well. That’s where they will be picked up from. The aircraft will be on the ground for 8 hours. The last number I received from International Relations is 121 that have confirmed but I suppose when the aircraft lands we’ll find out exactly how many are going to be coming along.”
News24 reports nine points you should know:
1. About 122 citizens who are currently residing in Wuhan will be repatriated
2. The flight took off from OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday March 10 at 21:00
3. The flight will stop over in the Philippines on March 11 for about 48 hours for refuelling, to rest and to restock essential foodstuffs needed for the return journey
4. After the stopover, the aircraft will fly to Wuhan City where it will be for a maximum of 8 hours
5. Screenings and checking of required travel documents will take place
6. No sick people will be brought back
7. The flight will leave Wuhan City in the early hours of the morning and land back in South Africa on March 13
8. The repatriated citizen will be quarantined under the supervision of the defence force for an initial period of 21 days
9. The mission costs about R25 million
SABC News