The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that it had been advised by its Embassy in Athens of the safe arrival of South African nationals in Cyprus on board a British ship.
The South Africans were evacuated from Lebanon as Israel continued to pound the country in a bloody assault against Hezbollah.
“The 11 South Africans were received by the South African mission officials currently in Cyprus,” the department said in a statement.
This brings to 16 the number of South Africans evacuated as part of the trilateral co-operation between the South African, British and French governments. Five South Africans were earlier assisted by the French authorities and are also in Cyprus.
“In this regard, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, reiterates her sincere appreciation to both the British and French governments
for their assistance,” the statement added.
“Further, a South African national living in Cyprus offered accommodation to evacuated South Africans prior to their onward travel to South Africa. It is such unselfish acts of ubuntu that make us feel proud to be South African,” said Minister Dlamini Zuma on being informed of this gesture.
Both the missions in Syria and Athens will continue to assist South Africans affected as the evacuation effort continues, the department said. – I-Net Bridge