Business Insider SA - Sep 30, 2020
South Africa's borders open for all foreign travellers on Thursday, and airlines already have flights lined up.
- But there is still no list of countries for which travel restrictions will apply, based on their level of coronavirus risk.
- Transport minister Fikile Mbalula should announce that list at 15:00 – but cabinet still has to sign off on it, so it may not happen.
South Africa may release its red list, of countries for which travel restrictions apply due to their coronavirus risk, this afternoon – some nine hours before borders officially open.
But not necessarily.
His team "expect that" transport minister Fikile Mbalula will announce the list at a press conference scheduled for 15:00, his spokesperson Esethu Hasane told Business Insider South Africa, but it is not entirely in his hands.
"Cabinet is due to discuss it today," said Hasane. "If cabinet gives the green light, the minister will then announce."
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the reopening of South Africa's borders for leisure travellers in mid-September, and immediately cautioned that there may be restrictions for travel to and from some countries, "based on the latest scientific data we can get on those countries".
There has been no indication from the government in the intervening two weeks as to what metrics may be used, how often a red list would be updated, or what kind of notice travellers would be given before any countries are added or removed from the list.
Nor has there been any official word on whether restrictions will be limited to a requirement to self-isolate on arrival, for those from high-risk countries, or whether travellers could be banned from entering South Africa entirely.
According to already in-force regulations, travellers to and from other countries on the African continent will be excluded from any such restrictions, while cruise ships remain explicitly banned from SA shores.
All travellers, including those from elsewhere in Africa, will be required to present a negative test result for the coronavirus that is less than 72 hours old, or face quarantine.
Several airlines expect to resume flights to South Africa tomorrow, including from countries with high and rising rates of infection.