A KwaZulu-Natal-based travel agency says it has assisted at least 150 South Africans to return home over the past 48 hours as escalating tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt international travel.
The evacuations follow recent air strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks and led to the suspension of civilian flights across parts of the region.
Airspace closures have left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded at key transit hubs, including Dubai, complicating efforts for travellers trying to return home.
The chief executive of World of Travel, Ishad Malek, said most of the South Africans assisted were pilgrims travelling in Jerusalem and Saudi Arabia.
Malek said the latest group of 50 travellers arrived back in South Africa on Monday morning after being rerouted through Cairo, with the help of African carriers including EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines.
“We had pilgrims from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban and had to bring them home using alternative routes,” Malek said, adding that many had been stranded with limited access to assistance.
While a significant number have now returned, he noted that some travellers remain stuck, while others have chosen to extend their stay until conditions stabilise.
Despite the uncertainty, Malek said some tourists are still planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Ramadan. However, he warned that the possibility of further airspace closures remains a concern for the travel industry.
“Our biggest worry is that even the African routes we’re using could be closed if the conflict worsens,” he said. “We hope the situation calms down soon.”
For now, agencies are scrambling to find alternative routes and seats.