Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (VH-ZND)

I see a strange flight currently in the skies.
This aircraft VH-ZND is currently en route from Melbourne YMML to Johannesburg FAOR, left YMML at 11:42 AEST and due in FAOR at 16:00 SAST after some 12 hours 15 minutes flying time.
What makes this "strange" is that we never get flights from Melbourne into SA, and our borders are currently closed. Also, the flight number QFA7025 is not a "normal" flight number. So therefore this is either a freight-only flight (what freight from YMML to SA?), or it might be a repatriation flight (I thought those were done already).
Anybody have any ideas? Chris, Gavin, etc. ?

No, Idea Viv. Maybe a glitch?!

Hi Dean. Nope, not a "glitch" in the system. I picked this flight up on FR24 heading this way, and see that FA is also tracking it. It will enter our airspace soon, to land in about 2.5 - 3.0 hrs from now.

Hi Viv, would expect a repat flight. There have been a few repat flights into MEL and SYD very recently and we've even had two into here (posted a couple of Lion Air A330s last week). Doubt a passenger aircraft would be utilised for freight only when there ample freighters working.

Hi Gavin. Yes, I am tending to agree with you that this particular flight was for repat. I was watching a few flights landing at FAOR (usually "normal" pax birds) from BA, Ethiopian, Qatar, Emirates, et al, and they ALL went and parked on the Cargo Ramp. However, this particular Qantas flight pulled up and parked at Gate A6 at the passenger terminal. I assume she will make her way back down under some time today. Take care and stay safe.

Gavin - sorry, I forgot to mention, they are indeed utilising (proper English spelling) passenger aircraft for pure cargo - they even load some cargo into the passenger deck and strap them to the seats. Airlines are doing all they can to turn a few bucks.

Did he/she track as far to the south as the QF B744's used to do going SYD-JNB? Thanks for this heads up Viv..

Good point Viv. I recall flying seat loaded cargo in F27's in the '80's.

Chris - yeah, pretty much flew a very similar track to the SYD-JNB route, albeit slightly more north. Here is the track-log.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHZND/history/20200428/0100Z/YMML/FAOR

Cheers for their track Viv!

I'd not heard of freight in seats before (except for bush flights) but that's just my lack of knowledge so this thread had another bonus. Cheers and thanks all. Stay safe.