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By IOL Reporter 
December 30, 2020
Durban – Interior Department Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that additional officials will be deployed to the borders, including the Beitbridge border post with Zimbabwe, the Lebombo border post with Mozambique, the Oshoek border post with the Kingdom of Eswatini, Maseru Bridge with Lesotho, Ficksburg with Lesotho and Kopfontein with Botswana between January 2 and 14, as large volumes of travelers are expected due to the influx of people returning to South Africa.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Motsoaledi said an additional 60 immigration law enforcement officers would be deployed to support the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in identified high-risk areas along the border where people they tend to cross into South Africa illegally.
He was briefing members of the media on immigration and border law enforcement matters under the adjusted Covid-19 alert level 3.
“Immigration officers and soldiers are not there to prevent people from entering South Africa. They are there to insist that anyone wishing to visit South Africa must use the official entry gates and present all necessary documentation, otherwise they will not They will be allowed to enter, “he said.
The Minister added that DHA, through its Port Health unit, would deploy additional Port Health officials at all ports of entry to ensure that only travelers with valid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests can enter the country.
“Alternatively, those who do not have a PCR test will undergo a rapid anti-gene test at the port of entry at their own cost. South Africa will not allow any traveler to enter the country without a valid PCR test or anti-gene test. -gen for Covid-19, “he said.
As the Director General of the Department of Health announced last week, only truck drivers are exempt from these testing requirements, as was the case at the beginning of the shutdown.
More than 259 Port Health officials will be deployed to all ports of entry.
In addition, 278 contracted community service personnel will be deployed.
“The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) will enlist private laboratories to provide additional support for testing. South Africa’s Military Health Services was requested to provide 73 additional military health personnel to assist with testing,” Motsoaledia said.
He said that the Provincial Boards have been activated for surveillance and will carry out road checks and vehicle checkpoints within the border law enforcement area.
The provincial authorities will also carry out barricades mainly in Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
We would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Kosibay border post between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique, which has been closed since the beginning of the closure in March this year, will open from January 1. The Cross Border Highway Transportation Agency will also deploy inspectors in Beitbridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg for the same duration, from January 2-14, “he said.
MESS
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