Thousands of residents from neighbouring countries trying to enter South Africa have been turned away from severely congested land border posts over the past few days.
Zimbabwe’s Government announced the country will enter a Level 4 lockdown due to a spike in COVID-19 infections, which led many residents who work in South Africa to try and make it back across the border at Beitbridge for fear of being trapped inside the country with no way to return to work.
However, many were turned back after queuing for days without food at the overloaded border post as they could not reach checkpoints before the amended closing times. COVID-19 testing on arrival for those without negative test results, as well as people carrying false test certificates created an immense bottleneck, according to Daily Maverick.
Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi said over 500 Zimbabweans tried to enter South Africa illegally and were arrested at Beitbridge each day.
‘If you come into the country with fake documents you will immediately be deported…People who are here [at the border], who either have expired [Covid-19] tests or do not have any tests at all, will get assisted through on-site testing,’ said Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza.
Similar events have transpired at the Lebombo Border in Mozambique due to changes in travel requirements. Previously, negative test results of up to 14 days old were accepted, according to EWN.
However, the Department of Home Affairs said it now only accepts health certificates of 72 hours old, so those without valid test results are either turned away or tested on arrival.
‘Those who came with no COVID-19 certificates were given a rapid antigen test at the border and when it was found to be positive, of course they were turned back,’ said Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
‘This was not because we hate human beings from these nations, but because our hospitals are already full and we are already unable to cope. So, we cannot be able to take some more and more people.’
The Lebombo Border reported congestion to the point that people are waiting up to three days to reach the South African border. COVID-19 certification validation has also been reduced from 14 days to 72 hours, forcing officials to retest travelers at the border, adding congestion pic.twitter.com/tNgVSPxXiG
— News in Five (@NewsinFive1) January 6, 2021
The bigger question is how can this be human? Some people have been sitting in their cars at the Lebombo border for 2 days without food or water? Is dying of heat exhaustion/dehydration acceptable.. but COVID-19 not? pic.twitter.com/3EzkN7HOjz
— Liza (@LizaSmitmwa) January 4, 2021
This is ficksburg border gate from Lesotho now they getting in SA, Beitbridge border gate from Zimbabwe, Limbobo border gate from Mozambique they are all full like this they are all getting in S AFRICA Foreigners are more than the citizens of S AFRICA pic.twitter.com/WgZAEIojXp
— Sello@mable (@Sellomable1) January 4, 2021
Current sights at Beitbridge Border Post. Motorist returning to South Africa. @zenzele pic.twitter.com/R01ejiFsKP
— Mandla combat moyo (@MoyoCombat) January 4, 2021
Picture: Twitter/Sellomable1
