‘Stop and start’ lockdown in South Africa to continue for the foreseeable future: minister
Tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says that businesses should prepare for continued lockdown restrictions in South Africa for the foreseeable future.
Speaking at an online wine event on Monday (24 May), the minister said that a third Covid-19 wave is now impacting South Africa, and that the tourism sector will have to operate alongside the virus.
“However, government is quite confident that the experience we have acquired in the past year will help to navigate these uncertain times. Easing and tightening restrictions might be with us for much longer, until such a time that we are able to achieve herd immunity in our country.
“The tourism sector will, in the meantime, have to operate alongside the virus. It also suggests that the sector is potentially facing numerous stop/start cycles as restrictions are changed and adjusted in line with the evolution of the virus.”
Kubayi-Ngubane said that these stop/start cycles will continue to affect traveller confidence and place jobs and the survival of tourism firms at risk.
“The collective management of the pandemic combined with the vaccination programme will push our country to a new equilibrium in which there will be some level certainty.
“The sooner we attain this certainty the better for our economic recovery,” she said.
A mapping tool developed by travel website Skyscanner shows that as of 24 May, South Africa has 59 ‘major restrictions’ from other countries in place.
These countries have suspended travel, may be closed to entry, or entry may only be possible if you are a citizen/meet strict entrance requirements.
By comparison, there are currently 93 moderate restrictions in place on South Africa, where travel is possible, but only if travellers meet certain entry requirements which can include taking Covid-19 tests.
Travel pass
One possible hope for international travel is the introduction of a sanctioned travel pass.
Presenting his departmental budget speech on Friday (21 May), transport minister Fikile Mbalula said that South Africa must ensure that it joins the growing number of countries that accepts the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) mobile travel pass.
This particular initiative was successfully tested by Singapore Airlines, and more than 20 carriers, he said.
“In recent months, Singapore has announced that it will accept visitors who use a mobile travel passes containing digital certificates for Covid-19 tests and vaccines,” Mbalula said.
“This makes Singapore one of the first countries to adopt this initiative. Singapore will accept the IATA mobile travel pass for pre-departure checks, where travellers can get clearance to fly to and enter Singapore by showing a smartphone application containing their data from accredited laboratories.”
The International Air Transport Association’s app is a digital solution that can be used by people to store Covid test results from accredited laboratories.
The app, being trialled by more than 20 carriers including Singapore Airlines, will be available for download in the second half of this month. IATA hopes such solutions will help drive the adoption of digital health certificates.
IATA said it aims to introduce further changes in the coming including enabling QR code scanning by immigration officers.
Read: Government considering level 2 lockdown for South Africa: report
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