The Department of Home Affairs said that passport holders from high-risk countries may apply to enter South Africa if they have business in the country.
‘Any person from a country listed as having a high COVID-19 infection and transmission rate, who wish to undertake business travel into South Africa, may, in writing, apply to the Minister of Home Affairs and demonstrate reasons for their request to enter the Republic for business purposes during the period of the national state of disaster,’ Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said.
Business people may apply to enter the country for work purposes, but many say they have not received a response from Home Affairs.
However, David Maynier, Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape said his office has been made aware of complaints from foreign business executives who have tried to apply to enter, but to no avail.
According to The South African, the majority of business entry applications have gone unanswered.
‘And so, today I have written to the minister to request his urgent intervention to ensure that the appropriate resource is allocated so that business travellers from high-risk countries who apply for permission to travel to South Africa receive a response within at least 24 hours,’ Maynier said.
Maynier has also called on government to scrap the list of high risk countries and allow all travellers with negative COVID-19 test results to enter instead.
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