Beitbridge border post: Covid concerns
THIRTY people tested positive for Covid19 on Sunday while trying to enter South Africa via the Beitbridge border post.
Ten more were apprehended on Saturday, a day before Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi visited the border post to monitor Covid-19 compliance.
Motsoaledi also said about 500 people were being turned away or arrested daily while trying to enter South Africa illegally from Zimbabwe.
He told eNCA he had seen a video clip of Zimbabwean soldiers helping people cross the Limpopo River while he was planning operations with the SANDF.
“I saw it with my own eyes. They pay something like R100. We have set up firewalls to catch them, and we succeeded,” he said.
Motsoaledi said he planned to deploy SANDF helicopters to patrol the Limpopo River near the border.
The SAPS would be conducting patrols on boats to stop people entering South Africa illegally.
He said operations would be intensified and manpower would be increased at ports of entry under the adjusted Covid-19 alert level 3 lockdown until January 14.
The Home Affairs Department has deployed 160 officials at the six busiest land points of entry to process returning travellers at Beitbridge border post, Lebombo border post with Mozambique, Oshoek border post with Eswatini, Maseru Bridge border post with Lesotho, Ficksburg border post with Lesotho, and Kopfontein with Botswana.
The Kosi Bay border post between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique, which has been closed since the beginning of the lockdown in March last year, reopened yesterday.
An additional 60 immigration law enforcement officers are to be deployed to support the SANDF at identified highrisk areas along the borderline.
In December 2019, 368 895 travellers crossed at Beitbridge. In contrast, by December 27 last year only 103 224 had crossed there.
The Department of Health, through its Port Health unit, is to deploy additional Port Health officials to all ports of entry to ensure that only travellers with a valid polymerase chain reaction (PRC) test are allowed into South Africa.
Alternatively, those without a PCR test will have to undergo a rapid antigen test at their port of entry at their own cost.
South Africa will not allow any traveller without a valid PCR test,
“I saw it with my own eyes. They pay something like R100. We have set up firewalls to catch them, and we succeeded
AARON MOTSOALEDI Home Affairs Minister
or who has not undergone an antigen test, into the country. Only truck drivers are exempted from this test requirement.
In addition, 278 community service personnel on contract will be deployed.
The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) would enlist private laboratories to provide additional support for testing. South African Military Health Services has been requested to provide 73 additional military health personnel to help in the testing.
Speaking about fake Covid19 certificates being produced at Beitbridge, Ramathuba said Covid19 was a reality even among our neighbours.
She told eNCA that the volume of people crossing the border had increased.
“We might have underestimated the nature of these fake results. On Saturday 400 people were tested coming through the border post. On average we process more than 8 000 people on a daily basis during the peak season.
“The test results come with a letterhead and signature. They look legit until you scrutinise them. We learn their new trick and continue to catch them out. Many people from Zimbabwe decided to beat the lockdown by entering South Africa because of work and food. Some rushed to our side. They are desperate to enter the country. Nobody who is Covid-positive will enter the country, ” Ramathuba said.
Zimbabwe is in a hard lockdown until February 5 with the closure of all non-essential services, a 12-hour curfew and restrictions on public transport. It was announced on Saturday by Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga.
Although its Covid-19 infection figures are much lower than South Africa's, almost half of Zimbabwe's cumulative case load was recorded last month.
Only mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors will be allowed to operate as normal. Hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets are allowed to open from 8am to 3pm, with other businesses instructed to close. Curfew is from 6pm to 6am.