Mbabane: In what could come as nothing but sweet melody to business people and the general public who had been restricted to travel to South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa will tell South Africans Wednesday night that he is moving the country to level 1 of the national lockdown and opening up international travel-with provisions.
According to South Africa’s online publication, TimesLive sources, emaSwati will soon be allowed to cross to the neighbouring republic because it is not among the countries flagged as high risk.
Strikingly, people arriving from countries permitted into South Africa will have to produce a negative test result taken 72 hours before travel, which will grant them access without having to quarantine first.
Travellers who display symptoms will have to quarantine at own cost, even if they produce evidence of having tested negative 72 hours prior.
According to the publication, Ramaphosa will announce that travel from high risk countries such as the United states and some of the major EU countries will remain banned.
Controversially, however, arrivals from India and Brazil-which have the second and third highest infection rates in the world will be permitted.
TimesLive insiders who attendant of the Presidential Coordinating Council on Tuesday, Cabinet – which is meeting on Wednesday – is expected to endorse the decision to move to Level 1 of the lockdown and the resumption of international travel. The president would then address the nation afterwards.
In an early attempt to curb the spread of Coronavirus in March 17, 2020, South Africa closed six borders into Eswatini. Those were Bulembu, Matsamo, Sicunusa, Lundzi, Mananga and Nsalitje. Ngwenya, Lavumisa and Mahamba were left to operate, but under strict conditions.
The opening of borders could live the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini with an egg on its face regarding the ban of alcohol, commentators have observed. Commenting on condition of anonymity, they pointed to the fact that it would be hard or government to deal with alcohol smuggling into the country, going forward because of the expected increasing number of travellers.
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