[ad_1]
An airport staff member observes an SAA plane on the ground on the runway at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
PHOTO: Alon Skuy / Gallo Images
- A man living in Germany has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, seeking to reunite with his South African love.
- Manazir Islam has not seen his soulmate, Alicia, since January.
- Islam is calling on the government to consider international tourism under Level 1 of the blockade so that he and many others can meet with their partners.
A non-South African resident of Germany has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to restart international tourism under level 1 lockdown so that he can reunite with his South African love.
Manazir Islam wrote:
I don’t just speak for myself, of course. There are over a thousand other single binational couples who have been separated from their loved ones in South Africa for at least half a year.
Islam argued that unmarried binational couples should have the opportunity, under Level 1 of the blockade, to reunite with their loved ones, even if there was limited international travel.
“Unfortunately, the virus will stay with us for [some time] but life must go on, and that also includes international travel. We have adapted to the ‘new normal’ and, in the same way, we must adapt to that when it comes to traveling between countries and continents, “he explained.
Islam further pleaded with the president to consider the right to love when the country approaches Level 1 of the lockdown so that “we can return to the arms of those we love within this year.”
“Our partners are waiting for us in South Africa and we would love to be with them soon please.
“Love knows no races or colors or religions or borders or nationalities. Traveling for love should always be essential and love will always win in the end, ”he said.
South Africa, which entered lockdown in March, is currently at Level 2 lockdown. Although restrictions have been relaxed, international travel is still prohibited.
READ | Covid-19 travel restrictions devastate tourism in Africa
Many non-South Africans abroad with partners in South Africa have not been able to see their loved ones in the country.
This has sparked the #LoveIsNotTourism SA online campaign, which calls on governments to make it easier for stranded couples to travel and reunite with their loved ones.
Islam met his partner Alicia *, whom he refers to as his soul mate, in June 2019, while visiting Cape Town for the second time.
He told News24:
We followed each other on Instagram before I was in Cape Town, but we never spoke or met before. But during my visit, she contacted me and we started talking and texting every day, and soon after we fell in love.
Alicia told News24 that the last time she saw Islam was on January 9, 2020, after he visited her in Cape Town for a month.
“It was very difficult to say goodbye and little did we know that our future plans to see each other would be delayed by something beyond our control.”
While not ideal, the couple can keep in touch through the internet and modern technology.
“We are always in touch via WhatsApp, from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, every day and it’s not just about text messages, but also about voice memos, phone calls and video calls.
“This helps time fly by and helps us with our patience to wait for the moment when we can finally meet in Cape Town again,” Islam said.
* Not your real name
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
