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A group of 20 South African’s stranded in Panama in South America are set to return to South Africa after last-minute negotiations ensured they will reach Brazil in time to catch their SAA repatriation connecting flight home.
The group will fly from Panama to Sao Paulo in Brazil and then catch a connecting flight to Johannesburg between June 15/16.
According to online publication SA People, the South African’s have been stuck in Panama for the past few months due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic prompting governments across the world to implement stringent lockdown measures to contain the spread of the virus.
A South African man, known as Andre, created a WhatsApp group to connect all South African’s stranded in Panama, SA People reports. According to a press statement issued by the group, getting to Brazil turned into a nightmare.
“There has been no way for South Africans in the entire Central and South American region to get home, apart from those with an American visa (vía the USA) and those who were able to get to Brazil and afford an overly expensive amount for a Qatar Airlines flight back home," said Andre.
"From the entire South and Central American region there is only one option for us, and that is from São Paolo, Brazil on the 15th of June with South African Airways. We are extremely excited about this, but there is one huge problem - we cannot get to Brazil.
“There are no flights to and from Brazil and won’t be any until the supposed opening of the airport in Panama at the end of the month. We are approaching 90 days since lockdown was implemented, with restrictions having only been lifted slightly for a few days and there are already talks about going back to a very strict lockdown. We need to get out,” Andre said earlier.
Copa Airlines, Panama’s national carrier, informed the group of 32 people that they were able to assist them in getting home, The group includes elderly people, people who are ill, and families and young children.
- African News Agency (ANA)
