Affairs, Adv Bongani Bongo, welcomes the decision by Cabinet to reopen the 20 land ports of entry for ordinary travel.
The ports of entry were closed on 11 January 2021, as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The decision to reopen land ports of entry is welcomed in the context of the need to resuscitate tourism industry after it has been severely crippled by lockdown regulations.
The Chairperson said the move to reopen ports of entry is critical for economic growth of the country and creation of job opportunities. Furthermore, the reopening of land ports of entry will further ease the movement of people and goods which will be mutually beneficial for social and economic development as envisioned by the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
Despite this, the committee has reemphasised its calls for full implementation of the plans presented by the Department of Home Affairs and stakeholder departments on strategies to ensure adherence to health protocols such as social distancing and availability of hand sanitizers. “We must emphasize that ports of entry must be adequately staffed, especially by port health practitioners,” Adv Bongo emphasised.
In its previous meeting, the committee emphasised that plans must also be extended to the Easter week-end period to ensure that ports of entry are not the platforms to spread the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adv Bongo said he was confident that all departments at ports of entry are poised to open land ports successfully.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, ADV BONGANI BONGO.
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