These are new lockdown travel rules as South Africa reopens 20 land borders this week

South Africa is reopening 20 land border crossings to allow normal travel from this week, lifting restrictions implemented last month to control rising coronavirus infections. This was revealed by the Home Affairs Ministry. The ministry said land border points, including those with Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana, would reopen after being closed on 11 January.

“The active and orderly management of people through our borders is an important part of the country’s overall risk-adjusted approach to control the spread of COVID-19,” said home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi. He is visiting the crossing at Lebombo Border Post, one of the four busiest land ports, on the Mozambique border today to monitor the processing of travellers.

South Africa has been hit hard by a second wave of infections linked to a new variant called 501Y.V2, which was identified in the country late last year.

As travelling to and from South Africa over these borders becomes allowed, it is subject to certain restrictions.

• Covid-19 screening and quarantine where necessary;
• The wearing of a face mask;
• Sanitisation and social distancing measures.

International travel is restricted to the following airports:

• OR Tambo International Airport
• King Shaka International Airport
• Cape Town International Airport

Long -haul flight departures and landings at these airports are permitted during the hours of curfew. All international travellers arriving at the airports listed must provide a valid certificate of a negative Covid-19 test, recognised by the World Health Organisation.

In the event of the traveller’s failure to submit a certificate as proof of a negative Covid-19 test, the traveller will be required to do an antigen test on arrival at his or her own cost and in the event of a traveller testing positive for Covid-19, he or she will be required to isolate him or herself at his or her own cost, for a period of 10 days.