The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has published new gazettes which update the country’s lockdown travel rules. The gazettes were published this weekend and will take effect immediately.  For the most part, the new regulations deals with international travel and South Africa’s land borders.

The regulations state that the 20 land borders which were partially operational will be fully operational, and the 33 land borders which were closed will remain closed.   Travelling to and from South Africa over these borders is now allowed, but certain restrictions will apply.

Daily commuters from neighbouring countries, including for school and teaching, are required to adhere to all the Covid-19 protocols, which includes:

• Covid-19 screening and quarantine where necessary;
• The wearing of a face mask;
• Sanitisation and social distancing measures.

International travel 

International travel is restricted to the following South African airports:

• OR Tambo International Airport:
• King Shaka International Airport;
• Cape Town International Airport.

Long -haul flight departures and landings at the airports listed in paragraph are permitted during the hours of curfew. International travellers arriving at these airports must provide a valid certificate of a negative Covid-19 test, recognised by the World Health Organisation.

In the event of the traveller’s failure to submit a certificate as proof of a negative Covid-19 test, the traveller will be required to do an antigen test on arrival at his or her own cost and in the event of a traveller testing positive for Covid-19, he or she will be required to isolate him or herself at his or her own cost, for a period of 10 days.

In a separate gazette, Minister Dlamini-Zuma amended the lockdown regulations to include a ban on certain gatherings related to politics. The regulation adds traditional community meetings and political events to the list of banned gathering types.

“Gatherings at politic events and traditional community meetings (izimbizo) are prohibited.”

These types of gatherings are now included under the “specific exclusions” table in the regulations, along with all social gatherings, after-funeral gatherings, and night clubs.