[WATCH] Returning SA student pleads for peace in Ukraine

Ten South African arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning following their evacuation from Ukraine.

They managed to travel back home with the help of pharmaceutical giant Aspen and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

The arrivals hall at the airport was filled with emotion as family members gathered to be reunited with their loved ones following an agonising wait over the past couple of weeks.

Fifth-year medical student Vutlahri Mtonga believes the conflict in Ukraine is nothing but a “human genocide”. 

She further adds that South Africa, as a member of the BRICS group of countries, should push for peace in Ukraine.

Fifteen more students are expected to return to South Africa in the next few days. 

Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela says all South Africans who sought to be evacuated from Ukraine have been helped. 

“It’s a very few South Africans who are not students that want to come home. Some have spouses who are Ukrainian and therefore there are issues of citizenship that still need to be verified and travel documents and all of that. And you have those who have chosen to remain in Ukraine. 

“There is a lady who is a pastor and runs an orphanage and says that she can’t leave her children. There is also an old man who has about four dogs and says he is not leaving. We wanted to get them out but he said wants to remain. Those who wanted to get out have been assisted.”

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