A South African man who has been quarantined on a ship since 14 March says he is desperate to return home in order to spend time with his ailing grandfather.

But Van Schalkwyk told News24 that his company had been trying to book flights from Heathrow to South Africa but every flight got cancelled.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said they have not denied any flight bringing South Africans back from landing.

"So, if flights are taking a chance and selling tickets and people are buying and those flights have not yet been approved by government it becomes a problem,"Ngqengelele said.

Ngqengelele said based on the number of people who want to return, then government "through its mission [would] negotiate for the flights".