Travel and transport under lockdown

Restrictions on international travel for business and leisure will be eased from 1 October

Last updated: 17 September

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday night that with the move to alert level 1, “we will gradually and cautiously ease restrictions on international travel” for business and leisure from 1 October 2020. This comes just a month after inter-provincial travel was permitted.

STRICT PROVISIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Travel may be restricted to and from countries with high infection rates. A list of these countries will be published soon. King Shaka International, OR Tambo International, and Cape Town International Airports will be resuming international flights. Travellers will have to present a negative Covid-19 test taken within the last 72 hours. Failing to produce this test will result in mandatory quarantine, at the traveller's own cost. Screenings will also take place. 

Embassies abroad will reopen for visa applications. All long term visas will be reinstated.

All travellers will be required to download the Covid Alert South Africa app.

“We are ready to open our doors again to the world, and invite travellers to enjoy our mountains, our beaches, our vibrant cities and our wildlife game parks in safety and confidence,” says Ramaphosa.

DOWNLOAD THE CONTACT TRACING APP
Coronavirus testing efforts are being ramped up as the demand on hospitals continues to decrease. Contact tracing measures are also being increased. There is an app available that uses no data to download, and will alert you if you have been exposed to the virus. Everyone with a smartphone is encouraged to download the contact tracing app.

MORE AIRPORTS OPEN FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
Domestic passenger flights will now be allowed at 11 more airports in SA – which is effective immediately.

THERE’S STILL A CURFEW FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT
You may only travel between 4am and midnight when using public transport, including buses, minibus taxis, metered taxis and e-hailing services. 

TRAVEL WITH CAUTION, WEAR MASKS, AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE
Ramaphosa warns against complacency, and urges people to exercise caution when seeing friends and family. "This is particular the case when visiting relatives", he said, "especially the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions that render them vulnerable to infection."

---

The situation is ever-changing and our team is committed to bringing you all the latest updates on COVID-19 in Cape Town.

Keep up to date with the lockdown. 

For more updates on Cape Town and coronavirus (COVID-19), including some of the good news we all need during this trying time, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

---

Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of what’s happening in the city, suburbs and dorpies. Join our newsletter and add us to your mobile home screen for the ultimate guide to discoveries in Cape Town.

Follow and like us on Twitter ❤ Facebook ❤ LinkedIn ❤ Instagram ❤ Pinterest for updates.