Last SA expats safely evacuated from Sudan

● Gift if the Givers says group likely to be home by tomorrow

The last eight SA nationals stuck in far-flung Sudan areas have been successfully evacuated from the war-torn country and the entire group will likely be back in SA tomorrow.

On Wednesday, head of diplomacy at the department of international relations and co-operation Clayson Monyela said the eight were made up of a family of five and three women working for an airline.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, head of Gift of the Givers which has been assisting SA authorities with the evacuation of South Africans from Sudan, has confirmed that the group, which is travelling with people from other countries, is almost at the Egyptian border, from where they will connect with the other South Africans.

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) will bring them back home.

Sooliman also confirmed “on a lighter note” that two SAowned Scottish terriers were also safely on the bus out of Sudan, and would be on a flight with the rest of the group today.

Detailing the events surrounding the last group’s departure, Sooliman said their evacuation was not an easy one, and they had experienced a lot of challenges.

“Yesterday [Wednesday] morning the bus couldn’t leave because the bus driver had an epileptic fit, and the bus broke down.

“Troops were then moving in large numbers with personnel carriers into Khartoum city, but we overcame all of that and the driver made great progress,” he said.

Sooliman said on the road they encountered no risk, challenges or bombings.

He said the group experienced their next challenge when they reached the city of Dongola.

“Without warning, the traffic police closed the road and said the bus cannot go to Argeen, and asked for all the paperwork,” he said. According to Sooliman, passengers on the bus had no documentation with them, but embassy officials waiting for them at the border had documentation for them.

The bus then had to change its route, and alert the officials to also go to the other border post, so they could hand over paperwork for all those needing it.

“Hopefully, if everything is done peacefully and calmly today [Thursday], all South Africans can be on a flight tomorrow — a defence force flight to SA.

“We hope that all the procedures can be successfully completed today [Thursday] and all the people can see their loved ones in SA tomorrow,” Sooliman said.

Sooliman said the two Scottish terriers that had been evacuated had been left behind by their owners on Monday as they were not allowed to take them with them.

“This is a good ending for the two dogs that were sad when the owners left, and the owners were equally sad that they couldn’t take them with.

“Fortunately, we managed to make space for them on the bus.

“They will cross the border and hopefully be on the flight tomorrow,” he said.

Sooliman thanked advocate Patrick Loots, adviser to the UN on Sudan, mediator, and negotiator, whom Sooliman said has been talking to both groups.

Loots had made significant and important calls on Wednesday to facilitate much of the movement for the South Africans stuck in Khartoum, he said.

“A lot of discussions took place behind the scenes yesterday [Wednesday], opening doors that were closed.

“I want to thank him for playing a huge role in assisting in carrying South Africans out of Khartoum,” Sooliman said.