LADYBRAND – Maseru lawyer Advocate Nthabiseng Motjolopane has blasted government for closing the border with Lesotho during the six-month lockdown, saying the closure was ill-advised and has adversely affected the local economy.
news
Sept. 30, 2020
STAFF REPORTER
3 min read
Lawyer blasts government over border closure
Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro
Motlolopane said the measure which became enforceable on March 27 was more lethal than the dreaded coronavirus as it had left thousands of people without jobs and the local economy teetering on the brink.
She said the measure was draconian and illogical.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already said to them the outcomes for corona in Africa are completely different from Europe, Americas and everywhere else. They do not find that one out. Our immune systems have been dealing with worse and we have survived but what they are doing is to kill you mentally, physically, emotionally. They subdue you. That’s exactly what they are doing.
“They are closing the border for people who are economically active with businesses that actually support their economy this side (Ladybrand). That is illogical.
“They are now at level 1. We have been abiding by this for a complete six months. They are moving to Level Zero, God only knows when. If they are moving to that level what is precluding them from continuing with screening because when I cross the border, it’s 15 minutes to my office and 15 minutes back home,” she said after being turned away from Ladybrand covid-19 testing centre.
Business owners and cross border workers have been told to approach private medical facilities for the test which costs R850.
Free State department of health spokesman Mondli Mvambi on Tuesday said
government health facilities would not test and issue clearance certificates to leisure and economic travellers.
“We don’t randomly test. Our policy is to screen people and test the eligible ones who show signs and symptoms as per the screening tool,” he said in a brief WhatsApp interview.
Announcing the border re-opening, President Cyril Ramaphosa early this month said
only land border posts that had remained operational during the lockdown and the three main airports: King Shaka, OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airport would process travellers.
Travellers arriving in South Africa would need to present a negative COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure, he said.
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“Where a traveller has not done a COVID-19 test prior to departure, they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost.
“All travellers will be screened on arrival and those presenting with symptoms will be required to remain in quarantine until a repeat COVID-19 test is conducted.”
Lesotho Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro mimicked Ramaphosa, dashing the hopes of thousands of Basotho migrant workers who have not been home since March 26 and had hoped South Africa’s move to Lockdown Level 1 would allow then to re-unite with their families.
Motlolopane who practices in Maseru but lives in Ladybrand said strict border crossing requirements would not offer any immediate relief to frequent travellers between the two countries, mainly business owners and transient workers.
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