SAA Airbus carrying SA citizens repatriated from Wuhan lands in Polokwane
Three buses, under heavy SANDF and SAPS guard, have escorted the group to Protea Hotel's The Ranch Resort, where they will be quarantined for 21 days.
The SANDF chartered Airbus had a smooth landing as journalists watched from a distance. Image: Jacques Nelles
A group of approximately 114 South Africans who were repatriated from Wuhan City, China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, have arrived back on African soil.
The updated figure of those being evacuated was given by national health department spokesperson Popo Maja on Saturday, just after the chartered SAA flight ZS-SND Airbus landed at Polokwane airport at 10:30.
Officials on duty ensuring safety during the disembarking of passengers at Polokwane International Airport #Covoid19SA pic.twitter.com/LguBrg9COe
— GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) March 14, 2020
The group had departed from Wuhan at around 9pm (SA time) on Friday.
— GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) March 14, 2020
Some roads leading to and from the Polokwane Airport were closed as logistics to ferry the group got underway.
Image: Moleli Molefe, Limpopo Office of the Premier
The SANDF chartered Airbus had a smooth landing as journalists watched from a distance.
Three buses, under heavy SANDF and SAPS guard, then escorted the group to Protea Hotel’s The Ranch Resort where they will be quarantined for 21 days.
Final luggage loading of repatriates from Wuhan at Polokwane International Airport #Covid19SA pic.twitter.com/LVqcl0pQQE
— GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) March 14, 2020
The flight crew, including the staff and members of SANDF and SAPS on the mission, are also expected to be quarantined for the period as a precautionary measure to ensure they are not infected with the novel virus, which broke out in Wuhan in December 2019.
Image: Moleli Molefe, Limpopo Office of the Premier
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has over the past few weeks emphasised that the group were not sick and would be quarantined in the area to ensure they are safe from the virus.
The four-star hotel, which is 25km out of Polokwane CBD is where the group will be monitored and examined by medics throughout the period.
On Friday Mkhize announced that a healthcare centre, isolation rooms and ambulances were in place at the venue. These will play a role in the event of an emergency.
The minister has also emphasised that the crew is not sick but were being monitored after being in China which is on lockdown following the outbreak of the virus.
24 cases
South Africa currently has 24 positive cases of the pandemic. The government said it was doing everything in its power to ensure that the virus is traced, prevented and cured for those who have contracted it.
The news that the quarantine site would be in Limpopo has not been welcomed, with some organisations even threatening shutdowns. Limpopo premier, Stan Mathabatha, speaking during an inter-ministerial briefing at the venue on Thursday said government had engaged with communities to assure them not to panic.
The premier said an awareness program on the coronavirus would get underway, and would include spreading the message during the Zion Christian Church’s Easter pilgrimage.
Mathabatha assured that the provincial government was doing its best to deal with fears over the spread of coronavirus in Limpopo.
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