Two Tanzanian stowaways claim they were thrown off a Chinese bulker off South Africa because the crew feared they had coronavirus.

The men were found washed up on a beach earlier this month in KwaZulu-Natal after allegedly being abandoned by the 61,000-dwt Top Grace (built 2016), which has been detained at Richards Bay since March.

The vessel's master and six crew have appeared before Durban magistrates charged with attempted murder.