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Interior Minister Aaron Motsolaedi.
- Interior Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says no traveler will be able to enter the country without a valid Covid-19 test certificate.
- The Department of Health will deploy additional officials at all ports of entry to ensure that only travelers with valid proof can enter the country.
- Motsoaledi advised all travelers to obtain a test certificate before approaching any border post.
Travelers coming to South Africa will not be able to enter the country without a valid Covid-19 testing certificate.
This is according to Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who reported to the media on Wednesday.
He said travelers would have to present authentic evidence.
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“Those who plan their trip are recommended to obtain a 72-hour PCR [polymerase chain reaction] certificate. It is recommended that a traveler undergoes a PCR test before approaching the border, ”he said.
“The Department of Health, through its Port Health unit, will deploy additional port health officials at all ports of entry to ensure that only travelers with valid PCR tests can enter the country.”
More than 259 Port Health officials will be deployed to all ports of entry.
Additionally, 278 contracted community service staff will be deployed. The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) will contract with private laboratories to provide additional support for testing. The South African Military Health Services has been requested to provide 73 additional military medical personnel to assist in the test.
“The Provincial Boards (Operational and Intelligence Structure) have been activated for surveillance and will carry out road controls and vehicle control points within the border law enforcement area.”
Barricades
Motsolaedi said provincial authorities would also carry out road checks in Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
Meanwhile, the Kosi Bay border post between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique, which has been closed since the start of the closure in March this year, will open from January 1, 2021.
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The Cross Border Highway Transportation Agency will also deploy inspectors to Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg from January 2-14, 2021.
“The department will deploy an additional 160 staff to Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Oshoek, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg and the Kopfontein border post for returning travelers through January 14, 2021.
“An additional 60 immigration law enforcement officers will be deployed to support the South African National Defense Force in identified high-risk areas along the border where people tend to cross into South Africa illegally,” Motsoaledi said.
So far, of the 53 land border posts in the country, 35 remain closed since the closure began.
“We closed certain borders because there were no economic activities and we had no other departments deployed there. No country can say that all its borders have been closed to South Africa,” Motsoaledi said.
