A South African father has appealed for urgent government intervention after losing contact with his daughter in Iran, as escalating tensions in the Middle East disrupt communications and travel.
Syed Abdullah Husseini said he has not been able to reach his daughter for five days, raising fears for her safety amid ongoing hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The conflict has intensified over the past week, with widespread airspace closures, heightened security risks, intermittent internet shutdowns and the suspension of some diplomatic services in affected areas, leaving many civilians stranded or unable to communicate with family members.
Husseini said the uncertainty has been deeply distressing and has called on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to introduce emergency measures to help South Africans and their relatives return home safely.
He urged authorities to consider alternative arrangements that would allow visa processing to continue, even where diplomatic missions are limited or closed.
“The minimum the foreign ministry can do is create a facility in Tehran where applications for visas can still be received for those who need to travel to South Africa,” he said, adding that families should be given every possible avenue to reunite with loved ones.
As regional tensions persist and travel routes remain restricted, families like Husseini’s are left waiting anxiously for answers and hoping for swift diplomatic action to bring their relatives home.