Flight cancellations leave South Africans stranded during Iran conflict
The major transit hub of Dubai has been closed due after the US and Israel exchanged missile strikes with Iran on Saturday morning.
Image: AFP
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that it is actively communicating with South Africans stranded in Gulf nations in the wake of the recent US and Israeli military strikes on Iran and the ensuing retaliatory attacks.
In response to the escalating conflict, South Africa, along with several other countries worldwide, have cancelled international flights due to significant airspace closures across the Middle East.
The US and Israel launched a massive and coordinated military offensive against Iran on Saturday.
DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said no South Africans stated that they are in distress so far, while the deputy director-general, Clayson Monyela, said the department is in communication with South Africans stranded in the region and is reviewing evacuation contingencies.
"So far we have not lost anybody. The South Africans we know of are all accounted for. We are monitoring the situation. But the challenge is that unfortunately, it is not possible to move people out to those places because there is no means to do that," Monyela said.
The departments said evacuations of South Africans in Gulf nations can't take place until the bombing stops
International bodies including the United Nations and the African Union have called for a de-escalation of tensions.
The operation, codenamed “Epic Fury” by the US and “Lion’s Roar "by Israel, involved airstrikes across at least 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a strike on his compound in Tehran. Iranian state media has since confirmed his death and declared 40 days of mourning.
Other high-ranking officials reportedly killed include the Chief of Army Staff, the Defence Minister, and the head of the Revolutionary Guard.
As a result, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that at least 14 international flights were cancelled from yesterday until further notice.
ACSA said this is primarily due to the closure of airspace over the UAE and Qatar.
The disruptions saw eight cancellations (seven outbound and one inbound) in OR Tambo International. Four outbound flights have been cancelled at the Cape Town International, while King Shaka International cancelled two outbound.
“Passengers are strongly advised to contact their airlines or relevant embassies directly for the latest schedules and status updates,” read the statement.
Meanwhile, socialite and reality TV star Eva Modika announced that she is currently stranded in Dubai and has publicly appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and DIRCO for urgent government assistance.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Modika said she is stuck in the UAE due to rising Middle East tensions that have led to the suspension of flights and the grounding of major airlines such as Emirates and Etihad.
Modika appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and DIRCO to urgently intervene and assist South African citizens who are affected and currently in the region.
Ramaphosa expressed “deep concern” and called for “maximum restraint” from all parties as he called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to act in a manner consistent with international law, international humanitarian law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the “use of force” by the US and Israel, stating that the strikes violated international law and the UN Charter.