In a statement released after a meeting involving senior immigration officials and port management to address the challenges arising from the implementation of Regulations pertaining to travel into South Africa, Motswaledi said the negative COVID-19 Certificate is valid for 14 days.
“In view of the confusion regarding the 72 hours negative test requirement, we reiterate that business persons providing services across the borders of SADC are allowed multiple entry subject to the following: Producing a certificate of negative COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure. This certificate is valid for 72 hours,” said the statement.
The statement was issued partly in response to a Metro inquiry into concerns raised by Ladybrand businessmen and residents who work across the border in Lesotho.
The Metro had asked Motswaledi to clarify requirements for South Africans who cross the border to Maseru daily but were not able to do so during the six-month hard lockdown.
The paper had also wanted to know whether frequent travellers including businessmen and cross border workers would be required to test every 72 hours.
Last week, Maseru lawyer Advocate Nthabiseng Motjolopane blasted government for closing the border with Lesotho during the six-month lockdown, saying the closure had been ill-advised adversely affected the local economy.
Motjolopane said the measure which took effect on March 27 was more lethal than the dreaded Coronavirus as it had left thousands of people jobless and the local economy teetering on the brink.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already said to them the outcomes of Coronavirus in Africa are completely different from Europe, Americas and everywhere else. They do not find that one out. Our immune systems have been dealing with worse and we have survived but what they are doing is to kill you mentally, physically and emotionally. They subdue you. That’s exactly what they are doing
