Catching private flights: How SA ‘refugees’ left the country

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The United States (US) is set to receive the very first group of South African Afrikaner refugees, after they departed SA on Sunday evening, 11 May.

The group, made up of 49 white South Africans, boarded a private plane which arrived from Texas, to transport the refugees to their new home.

According to IOL, the national Department of Transport (DOT) revealed that an application for a permit for this chartered airplane was recently approved by the International Air Services Council.

A spokesperson for the DOT, Collen Msibi, who was also at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday night, revealed to Newzroom Afrika that a strict process was followed for the airplane to be permitted into South Africa, and it would continue to be monitored as it makes its way to the US.

From Texas to Texas: SA refugees US-bound

Msibi also said that a number of aspects was checked by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before the plane could enter SA, including the technical provisions of the flight being used, as well as a proper check on the documentation of the crew members.

The operator of the plane also had to submit a flight plan to the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) in order to alert the relevant authorities of the private plane coming into South Africa’s air space from the US.

“That was done and they are quite aware of what is happening. This flight comes from Texas and it went through Dakar (Senegal), and to OR Tambo International Airport. As it takes off, it is gonna go the same route – OR Tambo, Dakar, Washington DC then back to Texas. Basically that is the route that they are taking,” Msibi said, as per IOL.