The South African government has issued a safety advisory for travellers heading abroad and for those who are already in the Middle East.
It reads: “South Africans in the Middle East are encouraged to contact South African missions, and citizens travelling abroad for any reason are reminded to register with the South African embassy or consulate nearest to their destination.”
The advisory was posted on the government’s social-media channels.
Citizens already in the Middle East were advised to contact the embassy, ensure they are registered and their whereabouts known to the missions in the area.
“Citizens travelling abroad for any reason are reminded to register with the South African embassy or consulate nearest to their destination,” the advisory added before providing a link to all the South African missions abroad.
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“Citizens are also encouraged to download and register on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Travel Smart App, where they can include details of their next of kin and log a case with the South African mission should they find themselves in distress while abroad.”
The statement added that the government was monitoring the situation in the Middle East and “notes with concern that the conflict has resulted in the destruction of civilian infrastructure across the region.” It added that the government had called on the United Nations Security Council “to prioritise humanity over geopolitical preferences.”
Citizens abroad were advised, because the situation remained precarious, to keep a close eye on official government platforms for updates and relevant information.
