A letter from Kuwait, 

My name is Bianca Strydom and I am a teacher in Kuwait. We are desperate to come home. Today I'm gutted, I am in a foreign country in a foreign time. 

We have been stuck in Kuwait for 2 months. Kuwait are letting all expatriates leave the country to get back to their loved ones. As the situation is still developing we are unsure of when this opportunity will present itself again. 

Concerning job security, Kuwait has been amazing. We have been assured to not worry. Our schools in Kuwait have been closed now and our school year is done.

If we can not return to South Africa we will be stuck indefinitely. 

I got excited the one day when I saw that there is a flight I can book going home. Myself, my fiance and other South African colleagues booked this flight privately and/or through employer assigned travel agents.  

This was the first available flight (via Doha to Johannesburg 2nd of May [QAR1363])

We booked it, paid and were positive we would be able to get home.

We have been in contact with South African embassy members, sending details through that we have booked this flight. We have asked our embassy for assistance in Kuwait before booking these flights. They wanted us to pay R60 000 for a one way ticket. 

There are a lot of people who are on this flight desperate to get home. Not just from Kuwait. At the moment Doha is the hub that connects all flights. This will get us home.

Yesterday we woke up and checked our flight status and it had been cancelled. After a while on the phone with Qatar Airways they said we should check again tomorrow. On their system it is still confirmed.

This up and down is killing us.

Flight from Doha to Jo'burg is happening... Few hours after we have been on the phone. 

This morning multiple people phoned DIRCO in South Africa. They are saying that no flights are coming into South Africa. DIRCO was not even aware of the situation in Kuwait. They were helpful, and could give clear answers. 

Phoned Qatar Airways Head Office in Qatar (again) they confirmed our flight is happening. Qatar Airways took our money and still assuring us that this flight will be happening. 

We also have not received any email from Qatar telling us that the flight is canceled. 

South African authorities will not let us land unless it's a repatriation flight. 

All we ask for is clearance to land at O.R Tambo International Airport on the 2nd of May 2020. Flight Number : QAR1363