Stranded doctors back home

A GROUP of Limpopo medical students who had been stranded in Cuba arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg yesterday.

The students had been in Cuba on an exchange programme. After their arrival, they refused to speak to Sowetan or to be photographed.

They are part of 26 students about whom earlier this month Sowetan reported were stranded in Cuba because the Limpopo health department could not pay for their accommodation and air tickets to return home.

Limpopo health department spokesman Phuti Seloba said: "They were supposed to come back earlier. But some left their yellow fever cards. Any responsible person travelling knows it [yellow fever card] must form part of their travel documents.

"A flight that was supposed to carry 18 of the students ended up carrying only two."

Seloba also said the department did not have an agency to do bookings for the students and could not risk misusing millions of rands.