South Africa - entry restrictions and rules [merged thread]
Jun 27, 2020, 11:16 am
#181
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nsoltz, I wish you good fortune. At least you’re taking a long view, which should/might help!
For us, we need SA’s high summer in the Western Cape, so our options will tend to time out around Feb/Mar 2021.
For us, we need SA’s high summer in the Western Cape, so our options will tend to time out around Feb/Mar 2021.
Jun 28, 2020, 1:13 pm
#183
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
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Let's say SA does open its border in September for argument sake, how many potential travellers would run the risk of getting stuck in a second wave and end up stuck in SA. I think this will really start to play out if we do open up. While the SA economy is opening more and more, it has to or otherwise SA will turn into a major humanitarian crisis, the number of cases is growing larger by the day. At least in Europe there is somewhat sound leadership compared to what dribble is scrapped out in SA, it really is a country that would very easily turnaround without notice and shut everything down again at a drop of a hat. I think all bets is that there just has to be a vaccine ready in the next 3 months to calm fears and really return to normal international travel wise.
Even if borders do open, watch the government enforce ridiculous rules for inbound travellers that makes SA not desirable in the slightest. I think the real fall out economical is still to come. One of my best friends works for the Domestic Branch of the State Security Agency, high up, he says Gov has got a secret level 6 lockdown on the cards if needed if SA turns into an everyman for himself situation. It is has different forms from nationwide Eskom outage, civil unrest, severe drought ( Cape Town specific plan) and pandemic such as Covid - adapted from its Ebola plan. It is apparently a terrifying lockdown option.
I have adapted the approcach of just waiting it out and not overthinking it.
Even if borders do open, watch the government enforce ridiculous rules for inbound travellers that makes SA not desirable in the slightest. I think the real fall out economical is still to come. One of my best friends works for the Domestic Branch of the State Security Agency, high up, he says Gov has got a secret level 6 lockdown on the cards if needed if SA turns into an everyman for himself situation. It is has different forms from nationwide Eskom outage, civil unrest, severe drought ( Cape Town specific plan) and pandemic such as Covid - adapted from its Ebola plan. It is apparently a terrifying lockdown option.
I have adapted the approcach of just waiting it out and not overthinking it.
Jun 29, 2020, 3:30 am
#184
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Location: Cape Town
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Update as per the minister of transport, this was just announced minutes ago. Sadly no changes to international travel, but more domestic airports to open which is in itself promising for international routes to be allowed in the future.
a)All international passenger flights are prohibited except those flights authorised by the Minister of Transport.
b)Domestic passenger flights are permitted subject to the following conditions:
(i) In addition to the original four airports that are currently operating, the following domestic airports will reopen from 01 July 2020:
• Bram Fischer International Airport;
• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport;
• Pietermaritzburg Airport;
• Port Elizabeth International Airport;
• Richardsbay Airport;
• Skukuza Airport; and Upington Airport
Source:
a)All international passenger flights are prohibited except those flights authorised by the Minister of Transport.
b)Domestic passenger flights are permitted subject to the following conditions:
(i) In addition to the original four airports that are currently operating, the following domestic airports will reopen from 01 July 2020:
• Bram Fischer International Airport;
• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport;
• Pietermaritzburg Airport;
• Port Elizabeth International Airport;
• Richardsbay Airport;
• Skukuza Airport; and Upington Airport
Source:
Jun 29, 2020, 12:24 pm
#185
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Skukuza?!? At least 99% of the passengers traveling to that airport are safari tourists, the vast majority of those from overseas.
They can open the airport as much as they want, but with all the safari lodges closed and the KNP only taking day visitors from Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where will the passengers come from?
KMIA at least has some business traffic to Nelspruit, but one wonders whether there's enough demand for even one daily flight.
Johan
They can open the airport as much as they want, but with all the safari lodges closed and the KNP only taking day visitors from Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where will the passengers come from?
KMIA at least has some business traffic to Nelspruit, but one wonders whether there's enough demand for even one daily flight.
Johan
Jun 30, 2020, 2:29 am
#186
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 228
Skukuza?!? At least 99% of the passengers traveling to that airport are safari tourists, the vast majority of those from overseas.
They can open the airport as much as they want, but with all the safari lodges closed and the KNP only taking day visitors from Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where will the passengers come from?
Johan
They can open the airport as much as they want, but with all the safari lodges closed and the KNP only taking day visitors from Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where will the passengers come from?
Johan
ok, KNP has a conference centre at the camp, but really...? But does it really warrant a lot of business travel at the moment? Maybe it does? On the other hand, nothing surprises me anymore. The lodges must be in depair!
Jul 1, 2020, 1:28 pm
#187
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The governments determination to kill the goose that lays the golden egg is getting more impressive by the day:
"The potential growth and post-COVID recovery of the tourism sector has been dealt another blow with confirmation – by Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa – that the Department of Tourism’s budget has been cut by R1bn (€51.5m)“The R2.4bn (€124m) budget for the Department of Tourism has been cut by R1bn – effectively 40%. And the majority of the cut (around 80%) is South African Tourism’s marketing budget,” he said."
Source
Way to go!
Johan
"The potential growth and post-COVID recovery of the tourism sector has been dealt another blow with confirmation – by Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa – that the Department of Tourism’s budget has been cut by R1bn (€51.5m)“The R2.4bn (€124m) budget for the Department of Tourism has been cut by R1bn – effectively 40%. And the majority of the cut (around 80%) is South African Tourism’s marketing budget,” he said."
Source
Way to go!
Johan
Jul 1, 2020, 11:24 pm
#188
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The governments determination to kill the goose that lays the golden egg is getting more impressive by the day:
"The potential growth and post-COVID recovery of the tourism sector has been dealt another blow with confirmation – by Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa – that the Department of Tourism’s budget has been cut by R1bn (€51.5m)“The R2.4bn (€124m) budget for the Department of Tourism has been cut by R1bn – effectively 40%. And the majority of the cut (around 80%) is South African Tourism’s marketing budget,” he said."
Source
Way to go!
Johan
"The potential growth and post-COVID recovery of the tourism sector has been dealt another blow with confirmation – by Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa – that the Department of Tourism’s budget has been cut by R1bn (€51.5m)“The R2.4bn (€124m) budget for the Department of Tourism has been cut by R1bn – effectively 40%. And the majority of the cut (around 80%) is South African Tourism’s marketing budget,” he said."
Source
Way to go!
Johan
David
Jul 2, 2020, 2:04 am
#189
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Oh well, I guess a lot of people know SA exists! And, let's face it, there are probably more pressing local needs for that money.
PS. Thanks, DELee, for expanding my vocabulary!
PS. Thanks, DELee, for expanding my vocabulary!
Jul 2, 2020, 2:29 pm
#190
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Jul 3, 2020, 1:43 am
#191
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A sad but totally predictable piece on the BBC News feed thes morning ... C-19 in townships, in this case Khayelitsha, on the coast SE of Cape town.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53256879
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53256879
Jul 5, 2020, 9:46 am
#192
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 228
Sunday Times (TimesLive.co.za) by S'THEMBILE CELE
The Gauteng government wants the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to allow it to reintroduce hard lockdown regulations in an attempt to curb soaring Covid-19 numbers in the province. If approved, the move could see SA's economic powerhouse being shut down for up to two weeks at a time.
"Nobody goes to work and no-one moves. Then the economy opens up again for a particular period of time and then it closes again. So at least there is predictability and you can control infections in that way," health MEC Bandile Masuku said yesterday. He was speaking minutes before attending a provincial cabinet meeting.
With infections in the province having surpassed 54,000 by Friday evening, Masuku went to the meeting with a proposal for an "intermittent" lockdown, closing economic activity in intervals.However, the province could struggle to convince the national cabinet, which has the final say on the matter, as President Cyril Ramaphosa told the media on Friday that there are no plans to move back to level 4 or 5 of the national lockdown.
The Gauteng government wants the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to allow it to reintroduce hard lockdown regulations in an attempt to curb soaring Covid-19 numbers in the province. If approved, the move could see SA's economic powerhouse being shut down for up to two weeks at a time.
"Nobody goes to work and no-one moves. Then the economy opens up again for a particular period of time and then it closes again. So at least there is predictability and you can control infections in that way," health MEC Bandile Masuku said yesterday. He was speaking minutes before attending a provincial cabinet meeting.
With infections in the province having surpassed 54,000 by Friday evening, Masuku went to the meeting with a proposal for an "intermittent" lockdown, closing economic activity in intervals.However, the province could struggle to convince the national cabinet, which has the final say on the matter, as President Cyril Ramaphosa told the media on Friday that there are no plans to move back to level 4 or 5 of the national lockdown.
Jul 8, 2020, 10:46 am
#193
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Location: Cape Town
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Load shedding is starting to trickle in now, as the economy opens up the need for energy is growing and Eskom is starting to have issue providing such - as usual. Watch this be the start of a very serious national electricty issue as I am sure there will no funds now to bridge any needs as this has been all spent on Covid related issues. Eskom and Covid issues comabined could be the kick off of the true demise of SA heading Zim way.
Fingers crossed big time for a covid vaccine asap!
Fingers crossed big time for a covid vaccine asap!