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Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the minister said his department would deploy an additional 160 staff to six of the country’s busiest ports of entry to handle a large influx of people entering and leaving the country.
FILE: Minister of the Interior Aaron Motsoaledi. Image: EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Interior Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Wednesday announced measures to strengthen South Africa’s borders as the country escalates its battle against COVID-19.
At a press conference, Motsoaledi said his department would deploy an additional 160 staff at six of the country’s busiest ports of entry to handle a large influx of people in and out of South Africa.
His department has come under fire after days of congestion at the Beitbridge border post. The minister blamed the congestion on the freight transport industry.
ALSO READ: Motsoaledi blames transport companies for chaos in Beitbridge and confirms one death
Motsoaledi said he hoped common sense would reign between the authorities and the freight industry, and said plans were approved to ensure stricter controls at the country’s borders.
The minister said that Beitbridge, Lebombo, Oshoek, Maseru, Ficksburg and Kopfontein were the six points that would receive additional attention in the coming days.
“Only truck drivers are exempt from this testing requirement. And this was the case right at the beginning of the lockdown that we have never bothered the truckers for this test, “said Motsoaledi.
OBSERVE: Security will be strengthened at South Africa’s borders
That would include immigration law enforcement officials, contract staff and representatives from the Department of Health.
Motsoaledi said that part of the deployed teams would assist the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) at the borders.
“In identified high-risk areas along the border line where people tend to cross into South Africa illegally,” he said.
He said there would be no entry into the country without an authentic COVID-19 test.
WATCH: ‘Only one trucker died in Beitbridge’ – Aaron Motsoaledi
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