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KERRI SELBY / Things
Kerri Selby and her husband had been living in South Africa, but were due to move to New Zealand in April.
Kiwis trapped in South Africa hope a government-backed mercy flight will bring them home after a private charter flight was canceled.
Kerri Selby, a citizen of New Zealand, and her husband, had planned to move to New Zealand on April 19 this year. The couple had sold most of their belongings and got a job and a house in New Zealand.
“The schools here started to close, and that’s when we got a little bit concerned. My teaching work in New Zealand ended up being revoked and then the borders were closed and our flights were canceled.”
KERRI SELBY / Things
Selby had flights home booked with Emirates, but these were canceled.
The couple are now trapped in their apartment in Durban and are running out of money.
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“We tried so hard to leave, but we were blocked at every step,” Selby said.
Selby was one of several kiwis who had signed up and paid for a private charter flight operated by Lion Air, which was due to leave this week, but has now been canceled.
“We were excited, it has been irritating. The New Zealand government had not endorsed the flight and many people were nervous about booking it, as they did not have enough people canceled it.”
Selby said she expected the New Zealand government to do a mercy flight since there were “hundreds” of kiwis stranded in South Africa, but she was not sure if she could make it to the flight due to cost.
“If a mercy flight is arranged, it will probably be around $ 11,000 for both of us, we are already in debt and have not yet received our refunds for our other canceled flights, so we simply cannot afford it.”
“I’m so anxious and stressed about that, but we’ll probably have to wait until the guests reopen.”
Antonina Goncalves, a 19-year-old from Hamilton, was also stranded in South Africa after attending a cousin’s wedding.
“I really want to get home with my family, I was booked to take the charter flight but it was canceled.
“I miss my parents.”
Goncalves said he had spoken to other trapped Kiwis who were “desperate” to get home and see their families.
“It is really heartbreaking to hear some of their stories, I really hope we have a flight home soon.”
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said “a great job” is being done to help New Zealanders in South Africa get home.
“We continue to work on the feasibility of a New Zealand government-assisted repatriation flight and are in advanced discussions with potential suppliers, although no final decisions have been made.”
The New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria said organizing a charter flight was “complex and difficult.”
“We are in talks with several providers and we are making progress. Any flights we can arrange will be scheduled for or after May 7, 2020.”
The embassy said that if a flight was scheduled, New Zealand citizens and their immediate family would have priority for the seats, and it would cost $ 5,500 per person.
“This reflects the high operating costs and complexity associated with charter flights in today’s environment. It reflects a global approach established by the New Zealand Government to ensure consistency between regions and routes,” he said.
