South Africa continues to tighten anti-Covid-19 restriction measures as the number of cases surged recently. On January 11, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the closure of 20 land border crossings until February 15.
This decision, the Head of State said, aims at reducing new arrivals in the country, mainly arrivals of people who don’t follow the required anti-Covid-19 measures. In recent weeks, South Africa has had to deal with an influx of people mainly from Zimbabwe, which is also facing an increase in cases and has had to impose a new lockdown.
President Ramaphosa said one of the challenges the country has faced after the festive season was the huge congestion at land border crossings. “It has been difficult to ensure that the health requirements for entry into South Africa are met, with many people arriving without proof of COVID-19 tests,” he said.
A few weeks ago, the government had decided to ban the sale of alcohol and tighten controls on the wearing of masks. With more than 1.2 million confirmed cases and 32,824 deaths, the rainbow nation is the most affected country in Africa, and the authorities want to prevent the second wave of the pandemic from being more devastating than the first.
According to authorities, the border closure measure will not affect the transport of fuel, goods, and cargo, people seeking emergency medical care for a life-threatening illness, returning South African nationals, permanent residents, or people with other valid visas.
Moutiou Adjibi Nourou
The BoxCommerce–Mastercard Partnership introduces prepaid cards, giving SMEs instant access to e...
Circular migration is based on structured, value-added mobility between countries of origin and host...
Togolese banks provided 16.2% of WAEMU cross-border credit by September 2025 Regional cross...
President Tinubu approved incentives limited to the Bonga South West oil project. The project tar...
BRVM listed the bonds of the FCTC Sonabhy 8.1% 2025–2031, marking Burkina Faso’s first securitiz...
Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate fell to 4.1% in January 2026, dropping below 10% for the first time since 1997. Authorities view the slowdown as a...
Senegal plans to deploy official software to digitize birth and death registrations nationwide. The initiative forms part of Senegal’s $1.7...
(AXIAN) - VIA Assurance officially announces the launch of its operations in Madagascar, following the granting of its license as a Life and Non-Life...
Mauritania has opened talks with Moroccan institutions to establish a national architecture school in Nouakchott. The project builds on existing...
The Khomani Cultural Landscape is a cultural site located in northern South Africa, in the Northern Cape province, near the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park....
Three African productions secured places among the 22 films competing for the Golden Bear at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. Berlinale...