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Many hospitals are struggling to cope with the pressure of the second surge in coronavirus infections, which is largely due to a second variant.
FILE: A hospital worker walks among patients in the COVID-19 ward at Khayelitsha Hospital, about 35 km from central Cape Town, on December 29, 2020. Image: AFP.
JOHANNESBURG – Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said South Africa’s health system simply does not have the capacity to treat people from neighboring countries for COVID-19.
Many hospitals are struggling to cope with the pressure of the second increase in coronavirus infections, which is largely due to a second variant.
South Africa’s virus death toll has now passed the 30,000 mark, with more than 430 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.
The country also contracted another 12,600 infections.
Motsoaledi said that only those who can prove they do not have COVID-19 can cross borders.
“Those who came without COVID-19 certificates had a repeat antigen test from the border and when it was found positive, of course, it was returned. Not because we hate human beings, but because we are mentioning that our hospitals are already full, we can no longer cope. Therefore, we cannot bring more people to South Africa who need medical help. “
He said this will be reviewed as soon as the Health Department gives the green light, when our hospitals are under less pressure.
Meanwhile, Motsoaledi added that they have a plan to control the border, especially in Beitbridge.
The minister said that more than 500 undocumented Zimbabweans are arrested daily for trying to enter the country illegally.
Motsoaledi said that this plan has many phases.
“If we hadn’t put that plan in place, we would have had to catch all these people. The plan is working at different levels. First, at the border, second, at roadblocks and a large number of people with fake COVID-19 certificates were captured and returned. “
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