4 SA citizens stuck in Afghanistan
INTERNATIONAL Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said four South Africans were stranded in Afghanistan after 30 were evacuated by Western powers.
Pandor said the four remaining in Afghanistan were awaiting evacuation by their employers.
Thousands of Afghans and foreigners were evacuated by the US, UK and other Western countries over a two-week period after the Taliban seized power. There was chaos at Kabul airport during the mass evacuations by Western countries as tens of thousands of people had gathered there.
There was an explosion at the airport last week which killed 170 Afghans and 13 US soldiers.
Islamic State Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for the attack.
IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa asked Pandor whether any South Africans were still in Kabul. “Yes, there were 34 South Africans present in Afghanistan according to the reports from the South African high commission in Pakistan,” Pandor said.
“Thirty South Africans managed to leave Kabul on evacuation flights arranged by the relevant employers who utilised the United States of America and the United Kingdom evacuation flights. The remaining four
South African citizens await evacuation arrangements by the employers.”
She said the South Africans were working for NGOS and multinational companies in Afghanistan. “… the South Africans are in Afghanistan on private business, mostly working for large multinational companies, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and international security companies.
“South African citizens that approached Dirco and the South African high commission in Pakistan have been informed that it is the responsibility of the employer to arrange the evacuation of their foreign staff on special evacuation flights,” Pandor said.