Indian travellers likely to be barred from entering South Africa

South Africa is gearing up to relax lockdown restrictions and resume international flights from October 1. However, as the spread of the Coronavirus is rising, Indian travellers are likely to be barred from entering South Africa.

Reportedly, the South African Government is in dilemma whether to include its BRICS partners Brazil and India on the list of countries that are barred from entering the country due to high COVID infections. As per a government source, such a step might have implications in terms of diplomatic issues.
As of now, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize is compiling the list of countries barred from entering South Africa, in consultation with other government ministries. It is likely to be finalised by early next week.

France and the United Kingdom will also likely feature in the barred list that will, however, be revised every fortnight.
While announcing lowering of the lockdown to level one, the lowest in the government’s five-level strategy relaxations recently, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had invited tourists to the country while announcing the same. Referring to this, country’s Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane later announced that they will be following the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation while deciding which countries could be allowed to send visitors when international travel resumes next month.

As per the guidelines, these would include measures for controlling outbreaks in both the departure and arrival countries, reviewing transmission patterns, and the readiness of the country’s health system to deal with infections.
He also stated that if a country is categorised as high risk, and there is someone from one such country who has invested in South Africa and has to come back and check their project, they will be able to apply to the Home Affairs Minister. The request will then be looked into and approved, provided they produce a negative Coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of travel.