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By Bongani Hans 
19h ago
Johannesburg – The South African airport company (Acsa) has distanced itself from an incident in which a group of repatriated South Africans, including surfer Jordy Smith, were stranded for hours at OR Tambo International Airport.
Media reports indicated Monday that the group of 200 travelers had arrived around 5 p.m. an explanation.
However, Acsa spokeswoman Betty Maloka said the airport was caught in the incident as a landing site, and had nothing to do with the delay.
“The airport does not have a role to play, as we facilitate passengers, while Home Affairs deals with passports.
“There is a Department of Health that must do the exam, like checking people’s temperatures when they arrive and organizing quarantine,” Maloka said.
She said the Department of Public Works was responsible for the quarantine locations.
The travelers’ frustration is reported to have started while they were in Washington as people were unsure whether their plane ticket had been issued even though they had been paid for. They allegedly had to wait 10 hours before they were allowed to board while others whose tickets were unavailable were left behind.
South African surf champion Smith, who with his wife had been to Hawaii to prepare for the world surf tour, told News24 that when the plane landed at 4.35 p.m., a temperature test was performed before they left.
“We were told we were going to a government facility to quarantine for 14 days. And now we have been sitting on the runway for about five hours.”
“” We’ve been sitting on the floor here for about minus five hours and it’s freezing cold. There are about 270 South Africans all standing with nowhere to go, “he said.
Maloka said she believed the matter had already been resolved and that the travelers had proceeded to the quarantine site.
Political Bureau
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