The South African embassy was not evacuating its nationals in Egypt, but would continue helping those who wanted to leave while protests over President Hosni Mubarak continued on Tuesday.
“We are not doing any special flights, we are not evacuating people,” international relations department spokesman Clayson Monyela said.
Instead, if South Africans asked the embassy to help them leave the country, it would help find space on departing airlines.
These would not necessarily be direct flights home, but to a destination outside Egypt.
A group of people who had used this service had been flown out of Egypt and booked into a hotel in Amsterdam.
“We are told that they should be arriving later this evening.”
Monyela explained the airlines were dealing with large numbers of people and the department had to work with available flights out. Once people were out of Egypt, “they can find their way home”.
The embassy was monitoring the situation, and had not yet felt it necessary to arrange special flights out for its nationals.
However, the department reiterated its request that people remain indoors and to go out only if absolutely necessary.
“We are still seeing that there is no reason to panic because the lives of South Africans are not at risk.”
Monyela said they were still able to communicate with the embassy, despite an internet shutdown and mobile reception disruptions.
On Monday night, the department urged the government and people of Egypt to find a speedy resolution.
The Associated Press reported that dozens of evacuation planes arrived at Cairo airport on Tuesday, and that the airport was in disarray with flight information “non-existent”.
At least 18 charter flights had left Cairo on Tuesday morning.
National carrier EgyptAir reportedly had to cancel 75 percent of its flights due to staff shortages.
The United Nations said an unconfirmed report put the death toll there at 300. - Sapa