South Africans Trapped in Johannesburg Airport

Approximately 270 South Africans who arrived home from the United States on Monday afternoon are trapped at an airport in Johannesburg owing to botched quarantine measures.

The group was supposed to be isolated for 14 days upon arrival, but were instead left in minibuses with their belongings on the tarmac at Oliver Tambo International Airport. 

Among those stranded are South African pro-surfer Jordy Smith and his wife.

They told journalists that the airport had not given them any information on where they would be taken. 

Another passenger, Matthew Kalil, told reporters that: “There’s no one from the government here, no one from the department of health”. 

He said airport staff had allowed them to use toilet facilities. 

The government have said they are aware of the situation and that there were reasons for it. 

On Monday, South Africa began to ease its coronavirus restrictions after five weeks of lockdown. 

Photo: News24