SA Government’s plan to repatriate South African citizens from coronavirus-hit city, Wuhan

The inter-ministerial committee dealing with the repatrition and quarantine of South African citizens that are in Wuhan, China provided details of how they will come back home.

Health minister, Zweli Mkhize, said there are around 201 South Africans citizens living in the Wuhan area and around 151 have indicated they want to return to South Africa The health minister said 121 people have been tested for the Coronavirus as at 26 February, and all results were negative.

Mkhize added that following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive for the repatriation of South Africans showing no signs of the virus in Wuhan City, contingency plans such as every citizen in the Asian city must be frequently contacted directly personally and their concerns recoded, are now being effected as a matter of extreme urgency. 

The plan will be executed in three parts: evacuation, quarantine and reunification. A medical team will greet the passengers on the plane for pre- and in-flight evaluations. Those suspected of being ill will be left in the treatment of the Chinese health system.

Mkhize commended the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), embassy staff, and the Chinese authorities for assiting to locate South African citizens in China. He appealed to the families who may have relatives in Wuhan to contact DIRCO.

Done By: Mitchum George