US Ambassador intervenes with SA Government to get stranded US Citizens home

“U.S. Ambassador Lana Marks, who Fox News understands is practicing social distancing by working from home, persuaded airlines to help provide charter flights to rescue the stranded passengers, and, it’s believed, other U.S. citizens who had been visiting South Africa before the travel ban.

“Additionally, the ambassador managed to convince the feisty and controversial South African transport minister, Fikile Mbalula, to change his mind and make a U-turn on a publicly stated position regarding country’s ports being closed — which had stranded hundreds of passengers on board two cruise liners, the Silver Cloud and the Norwegian Spirit. Passengers could be seen leaning over deck rails in Cape Town’s harbor, but not allowed off because of Mbalula’s declaration.

“Yet Marks got the minister to allow Americans visitors off the ships and on charter planes home.” Read more at Fox News.