Scores of people travelling to the United Kingdom (UK) have been left stranded at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. That’s because their home country the UK banned flights from South Africa with immediate effect from Friday.
The British government took this decision after South Africa announced that it has detected a new COVID-19 variant currently known as B.1.1.529.
Karah Browne, who holds dual SA and UK citizenship, said the travel ban is disappointing.
“I’m upset. Luckily I have family here. If I was all alone, as a 20-year-old, what would I do with no cash on me? I can’t get in a hotel, so what do I do? I’m stuck here,” Browne said.
Mark Mophet, who also holds dual citizenship, said the ban will have financial implications for many.
“We have to quarantine for 10 days in the UK at £170 pounds (about R3700) per night for 10 days. So I arrived in Cape Town yesterday but today I made a turn to Johannesburg because that’s where the hub is in South Africa for me to go back home, but I was supposed to fly back on Sunday,” he said.
Israel, Germany, Singapore, Japan and the United Arab Emirates have also followed suit with travel bans and flight restrictions on South Africa.
