VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - The Indonesian Consulate General in Cape Town, South Africa, successfully repatriated 43 Indonesian crew members who were stranded in Cape Town, South Africa, due to lockdown in that country. The 43 crew consisted of 28 crew members from the Shinsei Maru No.3 ship repatriated by air and 15 crew members from Fukukyu Maru No. 51 repatriated by the fishing vessel. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Consul General in Cape Town, Mohammad Siradj Parwito when contacted by the Voice of Indonesia’s reporter by phone on Monday (4/27/2020). Mohammad Siradj Parwito further said that 28 crew landed in Jakarta on Sunday (4/26) while the other 15 crew members are expected to arrive within the next 20 days.

"They arrived in Indonesia on Sunday the 26th and they actually stayed overnight in Narita. Then from Narita they flew directly to Jakarta. In Jakarta, they are temporarily accommodated by PT Harini agents, and for those who travel to Java, they can directly use the bus, but those from outside Java must be accommodated first in the agent office because they are actually all healthy and have passed the medical examination in Jakarta. For the other 15 crew members, they use fishing vessels where they work and are expected to arrive in Indonesia 20 days later," said Mohammad Siradj Parwito to Voice of Indonesia.

Mohammad Siradj Parwito added that since the lockdown, the South African government has banned international flights, both from and to South Arica. But he added, specifically for repatriation it is still permitted by the South African government. (VOI / ADVENT / AHM)