Ngcobo student stranded, forced to sleep in London airport

A student from Ngcobo is stranded in London and is desperately pleading with the government to rescue her.

In an e-mail sent to the department of international relations & cooperation (Dirco), Siphelele Dlamini explained that she had been in the UK for six months through a study permit. In the letter, dated March 27, she wrote: “I booked a flight to SA which was scheduled to land this morning Friday (sic).

“I found out about the lockdown in SA but I had imagined the government would have made provision to have their citizens come back home even though it'll be under special restrictions like quarantine for two weeks (sic).”

Though she slept at Heathrow airport in March, it was not immediately clear if she was still sleeping at the airport or had moved elsewhere.

In the email, Dlamini said her permit would expire in a few days; she had used her scholarship allowance to book the flight, which was cancelled and cannot get a refund. She described her time in the UK as the “worst” experience for a foreigner. “ ... But I'm having the worst time accepting that my own government would let this happen to their own.”

Mabuyane said he was in discussion with the Engcobo local municipality leadership to see how they could rescue the student. He said he was awaiting a full report from his office. During a briefing on Tuesday March 31, Dirco minister Naledi Pandor said: “In terms of the assistance Dirco is providing to stranded South Africans, I have directed that priority be given to those who are stranded at the airports, running out of accommodation, the elderly and the sick.”

“In terms of the assistance Dirco is providing to stranded South Africans, I have directed that priority be given to those who are stranded at the airports, running out of accommodation, the elderly and the sick.” She said where possible the department would provide consular services, which include negotiating with governments who have locked down their countries.

“Given the difficulties associated with travel restrictions we appeal to those who can afford to return to do so at their own cost. Some have started organising themselves into groups and have approached the department to ensure their safe passage home. Others are students whose accommodation in crowded dormitories [whch have] forced them to come home.

“Some South Africans have explored options such as arranging private charter flights to SA. This can be done in co-operation with their travel insurance companies, their sponsors or in groups with other citizens in the same country. In such cases, we have requested our missions to assist with obtaining flight clearances for chartered flights in the host countries and to get permission to depart on such chartered flight.”

Department deputy director-general of public diplomacy Clayson Monyela referred DispatchLIVE to Pandor's spokesperson Lunga Ngqelengele, who had not responded at the time of writing.

soyisom@dispatch.co.za

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