By Retha Fitchat
More than 100 South African citizens are currently stuck in Australia as a result of the global Covid-19 lockdown, with a similar number in New Zealand. To date, as outlined in correspondence from the South African High Commission in Australia, stranded citizens will be left to their own devices for the time being, with little hope that the SA government will help them with a plan to get home.

“The letter we received from government advises us to book commercial flights home,” says Bonnita-Leigh (Bonny) Immelman, a resident of Three Rivers, Vereeniging, who is among those stuck in Australia after she attended a 2 week training course. “The challenge is, though, that after weeks of global lockdown and having to sustain oneself, not everyone will have the financial means to return. It is even more ridiculous and frustrating considering that there are no flights operating now.

“President Ramaphosa personally intervened to repatriate 16 South Africans stuck in Dubai, and flights were chartered to collect citizens in Brazil and China. Down under, our pleas seem to fall on deaf ears,” says Bonny, a young widow who lost her husband, Dr Quintin Immelman, in 2016 as a result of complications following an accident. Their son, Leslie (5) is currently in Three Rivers, Vereeniging with his grandparents, Dr Gary and Mrs Lorna Immelman.

Ster conducted this online interview with Bonny this morning:

STER: When and with which airline did you leave SA?
BONNY: I left SA on Friday the 13th of March and landed in Australia on the 14th. I flew with Qantas. I was due to fly back to SA on the 27th of March. I had tried to book an earlier flight but there were no earlier flights available.

STER: For how long were you supposed to be in Australia?
BONNY: My trip was meant to be 2 weeks. I have now been in Australia for 4 weeks.
I am currently in Sydney. There are South Africans stranded all over Australia.

STER: Will you be able to use your return ticket once there are return flights?
BONNY: Yes but the first available flight to South Africa is on the 1st of June.

STER: Where are you accommodated at the moment and do SA travelers have to pay their own interim accommodation?
BONNY: I am very fortunate that my father-in-law has put me up in a hotel. There are many South Africans who are running out of funds to pay for accommodation, food and medications. Many of them can not afford the extended stay.

STER: How do you keep yourself busy?
BONNY: This has been my biggest challenge as a person can only watch so much TV. I ordered some diamond art work on Amazon and I have tried to keep myself busy with that. Unfortunately being alone in a hotel room does get to a person. I have my good days and my bad days as I’m sure anyone can understand.

STER: Do you receive any help from our SA embassy?
BONNY: We have received no help as of yet. We have barely received any communication from the SA embassy. The only reply that I have got from the 24 hour DIRCO command centre has been an “Out of Office” reply and an automated reply. I have been in contact with the South African High Commission in Australia. Until today, the only advice that we received from them was that it was upon ourselves to make the necessary arrangements to get back home. I did however receive an e-mail from them today, stating that Qantas will be sending a flight to South Africa to fetch Australian citizens and discussions were underway with regards to South Africans being allowed to fly home on this flight.

STER: Are you in contact with other South Africans in Australia?
BONNY: I created my own Facebook page to connect South Africans who are stranded in Australia. I also joined the HomeAwayFromHome Facebook page. HomeAwayFromHome had created regional WhatsApp groups and I am on the Australia/New Zealand group. So we are all able to stay in contact, as well as share any useful information.

STER: One can just imagine how much you must be missing your little boy – does he understand the situation?
BONNY: I think that this is the worst part of everything. We are extremely close and we are basically never away from each other. This has gone from a 2 week trip to a 4 week trip, with no indication of when we will be able to see each other again. I have been very blessed with a very bright little boy. He has been very brave through all of this. He seems to have quite a good understanding about what is going on. We are very fortunate that we can video call on WhatsApp everyday. My father-in-law has told me that there have been a few times that Leslie has gone to bed and when they have gone to check on him, he is saying a prayer, asking God to look after his mommy. While this is heartwarming, it is also heartbreaking for me. I just want to be with my boy.”

* Readers interested in following the stranded South Africans’ plight can visit the Facebook page “South Africans Stranded in Australia”.