Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, has warned South Africans who are planning to travel to the Northern hemisphere this festive season that they could find themselves stranded abroad due to fluctuating lockdown regulations.
Speaking at a media briefing, the Minister explained that during South Africa’s, and other countries’ international travel bans between March and October, 30 000 South Africans had to be repatriated from all corners of the world using more than 350 flights. This excluded the tens of thousands of people who had also crossed South Africa’s land borders.
“This experience has made us realise the importance of making sure that we equip all South Africans who intend travelling abroad during this season with information that might help them not to find themselves needing to be repatriated because they are stranded,” said the Minister.
She cautioned South Africans from travelling to countries in the Northern hemisphere, which are experiencing a second wave of the pandemic, saying there was a likelihood that international flights might be cancelled at short notice, leaving passengers distressed or even destitute abroad.
“Please note that you will be travelling at your own risk to these countries knowing the current circumstances and the uncertainty going forward. Please ensure that you are familiar with the immigration and health entry requirements of the country you will visit and South Africa’s entry health requirement during the pandemic. If you have any uncertainty regarding the entry health requirements of the country you will be visiting, then please contact its embassy in SA for assistance. If you need any clarity re the health entry requirements upon your return to SA, then please consult the website of the Department of Health,” she said.
The Minister urged passengers to ensure that they had adequate travel insurance in place, saying that many South Africans had had inadequate travel insurance, or none at all, during the peak of the pandemic earlier this year.
She advised travellers to register with South African embassies abroad, whose contact details are available on www.dirco.gov.za. She urged travellers to register via the email addresses provided, saying that some officials may be working remotely due to lockdown regulations and that they would not always be able to take phone calls. She said travellers should inform their family or next of kin of their destination and duration of stay.
She cautioned South Africans to read up on the COVID situation in the country they intended to visit, reiterating that the global situation was unstable. “Ensure that you meet the immigration requirements of the country you wish to visit, as many have revised their visa regimes during the pandemic. If the country you plan to visit is high risk, consider postponing your trip or proceeding with caution if the travel is avoidable,” she added.
Finally, she recommended that travellers should make themselves aware of the protocols of the countries they intended visiting, as they could be refused entry if they did not comply with these. “Although not yet common, many airlines will likely require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations before commencing travel. Currently, a COVID-19 test is compulsory,” she added.