Government is planning to reopen South Africa’s land borders soon. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier that the land borders will be closed until February 15.
During a briefing by the Minister of Home Affairs on their preparations and readiness to open the Ports of Entry, acting commissioner Border Management Agency Gene Ravele said: ‘The decision to reopen the land borders rests solely with the National Coronavirus Command Council and the announcement should follow soon, we have been told. So, it is very critical from a point of view of border control and management that we are ready for this important task.’
In December and January, thousands of residents from neighbouring countries trying to enter South Africa were turned away from severely congested land border posts.
‘We have conducted a situational analysis and also looked at what happened in December and January and learned a few important lessons from that,’ Ravele said.
The Agency laid out a proposed plan for the preparation of reopening:
February 10: Home Affairs expect to have their ‘border reopening plans’ finalised.
February 12: Final improvement of infrastructure at border posts to be completed, and confirmation of additional police support to be given.
February 14: Installation of all hand sanitisation stations to be completed at 20 land crossings. It’s about this time the ports of entry could reopen.
February 15: State of Disaster laws expire, but are likely to be renewed beforehand.
Watch the full briefing:
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Picture: Twitter/TheSoloWandera
