Andrew Stegmann

South African Border Closures and Travel Bans: COVID-19 Status

Travel restrictions and advisories are in constant flux as COVID-19 spreads. Please check with your local consulate or embassy for up-to-date details.

Travel bans have been imposed around the world to slow the spread of SARS-Cov-2 virus behind Covid-19, while others require voluntary self-isolation of either all foreign travellers, or those from specific countries.

South Africans are affected by some restrictions – especially in countries that have a blanket ban on travellers from places with known Covid-19 cases. South Africa has also restricted access to some nationalities.

The result is a moving target of a list of places South Africans may not (or should not) go, and a similarly in-flux list of nationalities that can expect at least intensive screening for fevers on arrival in SA.

Many countries have imposed bans and restrictions due to expire in mid-April, if not renewed or cancelled before then. Other countries have put in place indefinite bans, or have not specified timeframes. Bans typically exclude those holding diplomatic credentials, and in some cases those with specific types of work visas.

South Africans are mostly not currently welcome in:

South African are impacted by special measures when travelling to:

  • Australia: required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival
  • Austria: expected to be added to the list of nationalities required to present a negative viral test for entry
  • Bermuda: required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival
  • Croatia: expected to be added to the list of nationalities required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival
  • Czech Republic: expected to be added to the list of high-risk countries, from which travel is banned
  • Israel: likely to be denied access, but may be admitted if they can show the ability to self-isolate for 14 days
  • Jordan: all international flights cancelled
  • Lithuania: may have to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival
  • Malta: required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival
  • New Zealand: required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival
  • Slovakia: required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival

South Africa has banned access to people from:

  • China
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Iran
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

South Africa has imposed extra screening measures on people from:

  • Hong Kong
  • Portugal
  • Singapore

Points of entry closures

South Africa has closed the majority of its border posts following an increase in infections in the country.

South Africa has 72 ports of entry in the country which are land, sea and airports. Of the 53 land ports, 35 will be shut down with effect from Monday, 16 March in order to prevent further influx of people possibly infected with COVID-19. Two of the eight seaports will be closed for passengers and crew changes. To view eNCA’s map of the closures, click here.

For further information, please consult the World Health Organization and the National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD).

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], Belinda Fewings [2].

Andrew Stegmann

South African COVID-19 Update

President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about COVID-19 in South Africa last night, and has declared a national state of disaster.

“Initially, it was people who had traveled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus. It is concerning that we are now dealing with internal transmission of the virus,” the president said.

Ramaphosa was addressing the country from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday after a special Cabinet meeting to discuss matters related to the pandemic.

“We have now declared a national state of disaster. We will set up emergency and rapid response systems,” Ramaphosa said.

The following measures will be in place amongst others:

  • Limited contact with persons who may be infected.
  • Travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China as from 18 March 2020.
  • Visas from those countries cancelled from today and previously granted visas are now revoked.
  • South Africans returning from high-risk countries will be subjected to testing and self-quarantine.
  • Travellers from medium-risk countries – such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore – will be required to undergo high intensity screening.
  • Gatherings of more than 100 people are now prohibited.
  • Schools will be closed from Wednesday until after the Easter weekend.
  • Visits to all correctional facilities cancelled for the next 30 days.
  • All non-essential travel for all spheres of government outside of the country is prohibited.
  • We further discourage all non-essential domestic travel, particularly by air, rail, taxis and bus.
  • Strengthened surveillance, screening and testing measures at OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka International Airports
  • 35 of the 53 land entry points will be closed and 2 out of the 8 sea ports.

Ramaphosa says a national command council has been established that will be meeting three times a week.

He called on everyone to change their behavior including washing their hands frequently and using hand sanitizers, covering the nose and mouth when sneezing, avoiding contact with people with flu-like symptoms and minimizing physical contact.

“We must encourage the elbow greeting,” the president said.
Ramaphosa says the government will be partnering with the private sector to set up a national tracking and monitoring system for all coronavirus cases.

Cabinet is also finalising a fiscal package to help deal with the outbreak, the president said.

To read the President’s full speech, click here. The recorded address can be viewed below.

Relocation Africa

At Relocation Africa, we are taking every effort to ensure the continued safety of our staff and our clients. We are monitoring the situation daily, and will react accordingly. We are committed to following the guidelines as set out by the World Health Organization, as well as the South African Department of Health, and the broader government. We will update our clients and business partners if we make relevant changes to our operations, as necessary.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Netflix Launches First Original African Series: ‘Queen Sono’

Netflix has launched ‘Queen Sono’, its first-ever original TV series from Africa. The streaming platform’s six-episode TV thriller, staring Pearl Thusi, South African actress and model.

The movie was premiered on its platform and at the same time Netflix specified that it will increase investment in Africa’s showbiz.

‘Queen Sono’ is filmed in several locations across Africa and is directed by Kagiso Lediga, an award-winning comedian.

The show highlights a female spy who works for a force known as Special Operations Group (SOG) while trying to work out her complicated personal life. Among those staring in the series are Vuyo Dabula, Kate Liquorish, Chiedza Mhende, Connie Chiume, and Abigail Kubeka.

Pearl Thusi, who is also known for her roles in ‘Quantico’, U.S. television series, and Netflix’s ‘Catching Feelings’, starred as the key character, taking up the role of ‘Queen Sono’.

“I want other women to see themselves in this. Women are the heroes of this show. We’re still heroes of this continent. We still nurture, we still look after, we still fight. We don’t have lots of freedom. But women still choose to be here and they still choose to be heroes in an environment that doesn’t allow it”, Thusi said.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

ConCourt: Children Born in South Africa to Foreign Parents Can Apply For Citizenship

It has taken four years of legal battles – but now, if you were born in South Africa to foreign parents, you can apply for citizenship. It has been an “agonizing journey” for those who consider South Africa to be their only home.

The department of home affairs’ opposition to the court bid by five adults, representing others in a similar situation, for the vindication of their rights, was dealt a death blow by the Constitutional Court last week. The court simply ruled that it would not hear any further argument on the matter.

The department had not filed its papers in time, and it had not given good reason for this. What this means for Mariam Ali, Aden Salih, Kanu Nkololo, Caroline Masuki, Murphy Nganga and any others “similarly situated” is that their previous victory in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) now stands.

In terms of that order, the minister must accept their applications for citizenship and make a decision within 10 days.

The SCA declared that if you were born in South Africa to foreign parents who have not been admitted as permanent residents, you qualify to apply for South African citizenship upon becoming a major – if your birth was registered and if you have lived here all your life, irrespective of the date of your birth.

It also ordered the minister to enact the necessary forms to allow for such applications within one year. Pending this, he must accept applications on affidavit. The application, brought with the assistance of the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), was first set down in the Western Cape High Court.

It was argued that the centre’s clients had all complied with the Citizenship Amendment Act, which came into effect in January 2013. They were all born in South Africa to foreign parents and they had all turned 18, but their applications for citizenship under naturalisation laws were being refused.

In fact, they said, they were being told that such an application form did not even exist.

In that court, the minister argued that the act only applied to children born after January 2013 and could not be applied retrospectively. In fact, his lawyers argued, it did not even apply to children who turned 18 after that date but only to children born after that date.

Any retrospective application would create “an unnecessary flow of applications and burden the already strained resources of the department”. The Western Cape High Court ruling in favour of the centre’s clients was taken on appeal to the SCA by the minister.

There, the department of home affairs changed its argument. Retrospectivity was no longer an issue. Instead, it was argued that those affected should have put the minister on terms to deal with their applications and, if they were refused, they could then launch court proceedings to review and set aside the decisions.

“But this was untenable,” the judges said. “It is difficult to understand on what basis the minister could have made any decision. They were never given an opportunity to apply. They were just turned away.

“The argument is consistent with the ongoing attempts to frustrate and delay their application. It is not in the interests of justice to send them from pillar to post, simply because the minister adopted a supine attitude that the regulations will only be promulgated in due course.”

They were being treated unfairly, the court ruled, dismissing the appeal. Sherylle Dass, LRC regional director in Cape Town, said they had opposed the state’s application for leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court, saying it was an attempt to have a “second bite of the cherry” in spite of conceding the bulk of their submissions in the lower courts.

“Despite these concessions, some 10 months later, the state decided to change its stance. We believed it was an abuse of process. They plainly had no reasonable prospects of success and again it showed a total disregard for taxpayers, who have to foot the bill for these types of vexatious proceedings.”

She said that during those 10 months, when there was no indication of any appeal, the clients had submitted their citizenship applications but they were not dealt with.

“Following the dismissal of their appeal, we will now be demanding the adjudication of those citizenship applications and we will approach the courts if necessary, should a decision not be made within 10 days, in accordance with the SCA ruling.

“Our clients have had to endure a long and painful journey to obtain citizenship, with some of them all but giving up hope of being finally accepted by a country they have grown to love – the only country they have called home.

“A large part of this agonizing journey could have been avoided if decision makers within the department of home affairs exercised reason and caution by not arbitrarily abusing the court processes to delay and frustrate the exercise of the clear and unequivocal right of these applicants.”

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].