South Africans in Wuhan feel let down by country
No plans to evacuate expats
Living in lockdown amid fears of contracting a deadly virus, a group of young professionals from the Eastern Cape say they feel abandoned by the SA government as the coronavirus spreads across the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where they now live and work.
They, and others from SA, say they want to be evacuated – something health minister Zweli Mkhize maintained last week there was no evidence to support.
Jason du Plessis, 30, said that while he realised it was unfair to compare one country’s government to another, his living situation had become increasingly stressful.
“When I see the effort other governments are making versus what my government is doing for not just me but all of its SA citizens in Wuhan, I can’t help but feel embarrassed,” Du Plessis, who has been teaching English in Wuhan for almost a year, said.
“Obviously being evacuated would make me feel safest.”
The coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan in Hubei province in December.
Chinese health authorities said there were at least 17,000 confirmed cases in the country yesterday, with CNN reporting that the recorded death toll stood at 362.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said while no cases had been reported in SA, Port Elizabeth’s Livingstone Hospital had been identified as a quarantine facility.
Jessika Bailing, 23, moved to Wuhan in May last year, also to teach English. She said the city was in lockdown, with all public transport suspended.
But, Bailing said, she was still able to leave her flat and walk to the grocery store.
“I am so used to Wuhan being a city full of life, full of people, full of things to do and places to see. To change from living in such a lively city to such an empty and uninteresting city is quite an adjustment to make.”
She said her family back home were extremely worried about her. While some countries had opted to immediately evacuate their citizens from China, especially from the areas worst hit, such as Wuhan,
Mkhize said the government believed at this time that it was safer for people to stay put rather than risk contracting the virus in transportation hubs such as airports.
International relations minister Naledi Pandor’s spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said there were various departments involved.
“They meet and assess the situation daily, including talking to the Chinese government, the World Health Organisation and other stakeholders involved.”
Bailing said she felt disappointed when she first heard the SA government’s reaction “because it is a time that we really need the government’s assistance”.
“It’s very disheartening to see other governments go above and beyond for their citizens and then have ours respond the way they have.
“But direct communication has since been made [on Friday] and it is giving me some reassurance and hope during these trying times.”
Nadia Meintjies, who works in the hospitality industry in Zhejiang province, said she had been in contact with hundreds of South Africans living in China, with a total of 115 expats reaching out to her from Wuhan alone.
“The majority want to leave, but some have said they will rather wait it out so as not to endanger others in SA – it’s about 50-50 between those who want to go home and those who want to stay.”