Three South Africans who had initially stayed in their homes in Ndjamena, Chad, arrived at a local French school on Wednesday and were ready for evacuation, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
”They will be transported to the French military for evacuation,” said departmental spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
Rebels are trying to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno.
Five South Africans who were evacuated from Chad on Monday arrived in South Africa on Wednesday morning. ”They were airlifted from Chad to Gabon before they were flown home.”
Mamoepa said another four who were evacuated on Tuesday night were expected to arrive at the Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday.
A total of nine South African citizens had been evacuated from Ndjamena to Gabon by the French military since Monday, Mamoepa said.
He said the evacuation followed an agreement between the South African government and the French authorities to evacuate South Africans from the Chadian capital alongside other foreign nationals, after rebels attacked the capital over the weekend.
”South Africans in other parts of Chad were not in danger at this stage. However, the government will assess their situation on a continuous basis and make decisions as and when conditions change,” Mamoepa said. — Sapa