South Africa’s borders officially reopened for tourists on October 1 after more than six months of being shut.
Government released a list of high risk countries that will be banned from entering the country for leisure purposes, and they will be reviewed fortnightly. However, if the passport of a traveller from a high risk country indicates that he/she has spent 10 days or more in a low risk country before departure, he/she will be considered to be arriving from a low risk country.
All African countries are allowed to enter South Africa.
To visit another African country or for them to enter South Africa, travellers must present a negative COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure.
Travellers entering South Africa will also need to provide proof of accommodation address should they need to self-quarantine at the time of arrival in the country.
Upon arrival in the port of entry, the traveller will be screened for any COVID-19 symptoms or for contact with people who have been infected with COVID-19.
Should the traveller display any COVID-19–related symptoms or been in contact with an infected person(s), they will be expected to take a mandatory COVID-19 test. This test will be at the traveller’s cost.
If the COVID-19 test comes back positive, the traveller will be subjected to a 10 day quarantine at a designated site. The accommodation at a quarantine site will be at the traveller’s cost.
To allow ease of travel from the African countries, 18 borders will be opened and 35 border posts will continue to offer restricted services [thus not leisure travellers] due to insufficient capacity for screening, testing and quarantine.
The airports that will be open for international tourists are:
- Cape Town International Airport,
- OR Tambo International Airport and
- King Shaka International Airport.
The specific land borders that will be open have not been named and the borders of your intended destination should be researched if you plan on travelling by land.
Passenger cruise liners for leisure travel are still not allowed to dock and off-load passengers at sea ports.
Daily commuters who reside in cross-border areas/towns and those who are from neighbouring countries including those with relevant work permits and school children and teachers will be allowed to enter and exit the borders for work purposes.
The Department of Home Affairs is also extending the validity period of legally issued visas which expired during the lockdown period to January 31, 2021.
Holders of such visas are permitted to remain in the country under the conditions of their visas until January 31, 2021. Those wishing to be repatriated to their countries within this period can depart without being declared undesirable persons.
Picture: Unsplash
