Travellers from a variety of high-risk countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom and India have been banned from entering South Africa for leisure. At a press conference last week, South African minister of international relations and operation Naledi Pandor said South Africa had developed a risk categorisation model for different international travellers.

It classifies international travellers according to a scale of high, medium and low risk.  High-risk travellers are those who come from countries with more Covid-19 infections and reported deaths compared to South Africa. Medium-risk travellers are from countries with similar number of infections and death toll to South Africa and low-risk travellers originate from countries with fewer infections of Covid-19 and death toll than South Africa.

Leisure travellers from countries deemed high-risk will not be allowed in South Africa. The exception will be business travellers with scarce and critical skills including diplomats, repatriated persons, investors and people participating in professional sporting and cultural events will undergo the same health protocol screenings. Leisure travellers from medium- and low-risk countries will only be allowed into the country subject to the prevailing visa requirements.

It is also announced that the status of these countries are not final. Data will be reviewed every two weeks, and categories may change based on the data. It is important to note that all visas that may have expired during the lockdown period remain valid until January 31, 2021.