SA govt ‘puzzled’ by UK’s decision to keep SA on red list
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation
said it is “puzzled” at the United Kingdom’s decision to keep South Africa on
its red list of countries.
This keeps in place SA incredibly restrictive and expensive quarantine conditions for South African travellers.
Minister Naledi Pandor said she believes there is no reasonable basis to keep South Africa on the red list.
The department said it will intensify efforts to have South Africa removed from the list, saying the decision is not harming just the tourism industry but other businesses from both countries.
The UK announced travellers from Africa and other selected countries will be considered unvaccinated and will have to do tests and quarantine for 10 days despite being vaccinated in their home countries.
READ: SA records lowest COVID-19 deaths since start of the third wave
Spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said currently there are no plans for retaliation at this point.
“It will be a decision to be decided by the government, for now, there hasn’t been any announcement to that effect and we are just relying on making sure that we campaign vigorously to get the UK to remove us from the red list.”
