JOHANNESBURG, August (ANA) - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said on Wednesday that it had made contact with a South African citizen who is reportedly in distress in Germany, adding that reports that it had not attended to the complaint were misleading.
Johannesburg-based South African Police Services reservist Seth Baise alleged that the Dirco had taken more than three days to respond to his request for help to get his mother, who initially went missing in Germany, back home.
"Dirco is aware of the case of a distressed citizen reported by Mr Baise on Sunday, 12 August 2018. By Monday, 13 August 2018, our Embassy in Berlin made direct contact with him. The news report gives the impression that Dirco has not attended to the matter," Dirco said in a statement Wednesday.
Baise said his mother had now suffered a mental breakdown and he was left with an emotional roller-coaster of trying to get doctors reports and insurance authorisations in order to arrange her return trip home.
His 73-year-old mother, Colleen Crossley, who lives in Somerset West in Cape Town, was found wandering Germany's Frankfurt Airport without her possessions or identifying documents. She had been due to go on a two-week European vacation.
Dirco said Baise had been in direct contact with the Consular Services and the Embassy in Berlin since Monday, and that the embassy was in contact with the local hospital.
"Once Ms Crossley is fit to travel, the Embassy will assist with the issuance of emergency travel documents," Dirco added.
- African News Agency (ANA)
