THE evacuation of South Africans in Sudan is underway in the conflict-redden in Northeast Africa.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) spokesman, Clayson Monyela, said two busses had safely arrived at the border with Egypt on Tuesday, 25 April.
"We have officials from the SA Embassy in Egypt to receive them and facilitate their entry into Egypt. SA government will pay for their flights back to SA," he said.
Monyela acknowledged and appreciated the support of everyone, including the non-governmental organisation Gift of the Givers and the government of Egypt, is acknowledged & appreciated.
He said 12 more South Africans would leave Sudan on Tuesday, 25 April.
The government had confirmed that 77 South Africans were stuck in Sudan.
ALSO READ | Our tap water has worms! - Gatvol residentsOpens in new window
"With this, everyone we know of will be accounted for," said Monyela.
The disagreement is over the integration of the paramilitary group into the military as part of Sudan's transition to civilian rule.
Gift of the Givers' Imtiaz Sooliman said poor communications with phone lines being interrupted made the mission difficult.
He said the other problem was that many of the people they tried to evacuate did not have their passports or visas, which made it harder for them to enter other countries.
"Thirty-eight South Africans and seven Angolans went on two buses that Gift of the Givers arranged, but Dirco paid for, and these 45 civilians are close to the Egyptian border now," he said.
It has been reported that Sudan's army agreed to a 72-hour truce mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia that will start at midnight on 25 April.
