Sudan-fleeing South Africans denied entry at Egyptian border
Ten South Africans trying to escape war-hit Sudan have hit a snag due to a lack of travel documentation.
They have been able to get to the Egyptian border, but have been stopped from entering because they do not have their passports.
Forty-seven citizens were evacuated by bus from Khartoum earlier this week and travelled for hours through the desert to reach Egypt's border.
READ: Ceasefire shaky as Sudanese, foreigners flee
They were assisted by the SA and Egyptian governments, as well as the relief group the Gift of the Givers.
A frustrated and exhausted Brandon Wallas says 37 people from their group were allowed to cross the border.
He and nine others were stopped because they had no travel documents.
Wallas says their passports are with Sudan's Ministry for Residency.
He says they were travelling with the ambassador, but were left to fend for themselves at the gate with no representation.
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Wallas says they are worried because officials have the right to deport them back to Sudan.
He says all they can do is sit and wait for help at the border post.
He's added that all they have are a limited cell phone signal and water - they haven't eaten in three days.
Clayson Monyela, who's with our Department of International Relations and Cooperation, says they are busy with negotiations with Egypt to allow the South African group to cross with temporary documents.
"For the South Africans who are still on the Sudan side of the border who are stuck and stranded would not necessarily be correct.
"We understand the frustration but people must understand there is a war going on in Sudan and evacuations will experience problems like this. The important thing is that our team is going something about it and negotiating with another county for them to allow them to cross."
