Mbabane: Eswatini cross boarder truck drivers had a hard time to cross over to South Africa through the Ngwenya/Oshoek Boarder Post on Thursday, October 1 as new regulations took off.
The truck drivers from Eswatini headed to South Africa were ordered to produce the 72 hours COVID-19 test certificates.
This followed the travel advisory guidelines issued by the Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi on Wednesday, which complement the position announced by the Republic of South Africa recently. What was not explained in the travel advisory guidelines was that the new arrangement would affect truck drivers and essential services who have all along been able to travel between the two countries.
When the borders opened yesterday morning, whilst they were able to pass through the Eswatini side, the truck drivers were stunned when they were ordered to produce this document.
The drivers are said to have departed the Eswatini side smoothly as they were screened before proceeding to the Customs and Immigration Department.
They then proceed to the police officers to be checked, then to the South African side of the border. It was gathered that to their dismay, they were not attended to when they got to the SA side as they were told to produce the COVID-19 negative certificates.
However, after the engagement with his counterpart, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said business travel remained unhindered despite the requirement to produce recent COVID-19 test results.
In a statement issued by Khumalo stated that cross-border travel for truck drivers will continue as normal during the first few days after yesterday. He said they agreed with the department of trade and industry in the Republic of South Africa that COVID-19 test results will not be a requirement for truck drivers already on their way into Eswatini and those travelling back on or immediately after October 1.
Khumalo said the usual precautionary measures will be taken and screening conducted.
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