South Africa imposes 5 year travel ban on fake COVID19 certificate holders

Travellers using fake covid19 certificates to enter South Africa face a five year travel ban into the country, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron announced.

The new regulation comes as the neighbouring country reopens its inland ports of entry, including Beitbridge Border Post for travellers.

In a statement, Dr Motsoaledi said travellers found with fake Covid-19 certificates will be barred from entering South Africa for five years.

“Any person presenting themselves at any of our borders with fake Covid-19 certificates will be denied entry and barred from visiting South Africa for a period of at least five years. We appeal to travellers to ensure that they have all the requisite travel documents, including valid Covid-19 tests, when they present themselves to officials at our borders,” he said.

“Truck drivers should adhere to laws, regulations and agreements in place in the border area. This will go a long way in minimising congestion.”

Dr Motsoaledi said the management of people through borders remained an important part of South Africa’s strategy to control the spread of Covid-19.

“In the past four weeks the department has increased its engagements with officials in neighbouring countries, provinces with land borders and other stakeholders to improve co-ordination of efforts. The aim of these engagements was to share plans and ensure seamless movement of travellers and goods to minimise the chances of border crossings being super-spreader events,” he said.

On the Zimbabwean side, the border has been closed to general travel as part of lockdown regulations.

However, despite the closure of the borders, cross broader traders have been forced to move as means of survival while in most cases getting fake covid19 certficates at cheap prices

With most local laboratories charging around US$60 for the certificates fake ones are being issued for $US20.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, travellers must produce Covid-19 clearance certificates issued by a recognised health facility 48 hours before leaving their country.