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The Department of the Interior (DHA) has released a new directive that describes how South Africans or foreigners can enter or leave the country during the coronavirus blockade.
In a bulletin released on Saturday (May 9), DHA said that people can cross the country’s borders only in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of Interior Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
These exceptional circumstances are described in more detail below.
Emergency medical care
The directive states that a person wishing to enter or leave for medical care for a life-threatening condition must file an application with an immigration officer at a port of entry.
This immigration officer must inform the Minister of Home Affairs of the request and obtain approval for the intended trip.
The application must be supported by:
- Documentary evidence of the applicant’s life-threatening condition; and
- A copy of the applicant’s valid passport.
Anyone providing assistance to this ill person should also be screened and, where appropriate, subject to mandatory quarantine.
Repatriation
A South African citizen or permanent resident, who wishes to enter the country during the period of the national disaster state, must apply 72 hours before the planned entry into the republic.
The directive states that this must be done through the South African mission in the country where the consular services of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation are located, or where there is no South African mission.
The mission or department must inform the Minister of Internal Affairs of the request and obtain prior approval for entry.
The application must include:
- A copy of the applicant’s passport or identity document or document;
- A copy of the applicant’s permanent residence permit, if applicable;
- Details of the applicant’s travel itinerary in the past two months.
The directive states that a South African citizen or permanent resident who is allowed to enter the republic must, upon arrival at the port of entry, be referred for mandatory quarantine.
An alien who is to be repatriated to his country of nationality or permanent residence must also submit an application to the relevant diplomatic or consular mission in South Africa responsible for consular services in his country, 72 hours before the scheduled date of departure.
Services
The policy also describes which internal affairs services will be operational during the level 4 crash.
These include:
- Reissue of birth and death certificates;
- Issuance of temporary identity certificates;
- Registration of deaths;
- Birth registration, excluding late birth registration;
- Collection of identity documents or documents; and
- Application and collection of passports for people dedicated to the delivery of essential goods across the borders of the Republic and for those who travel outside the Republic to receive medical services.
You can read the full gazette below:
Internal Affairs Gazette May 9 … by BusinessTech on Scribd
Read: New coronavirus changes for South African medical aid
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