South Africa announced the gradual reopening of the country’s borders!

SA to move to lockdown level 1, restrictions on social gatherings eased

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the easing of South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to lockdown level 1 on Wednesday night.“We have withstood the coronavirus storm. Now is the time to move the country and our people to what will become the new normal,” he said.

The president has also announced the gradual reopening of the country’s borders.

“We will be allowing travel into and out of South Africa for business, leisure and other travel with effect from 1 October,” Ramaphosa said.

However, travellers will have to provide a certificate of proof that they have tested negative for Covid-19.

“South African missions abroad will open for visa applications and all long-term visas will be reinstated,” he said.

Ramaphosa was addressing the nation after he met members of the National Coronavirus Command Council on Monday and after a special sitting of the President’s Co-ordinating Council, which he co-chairs with Deputy President David Mabuza.

The PCC is made up of ministers, premiers and leadership of South African Local Government Association (Salga) and National House of Traditional Leaders.

For the past six months, South Africa has been declared a disaster state and has been in lockdown since late March. The disaster state was declared in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus.