DA: Cancellation of Emirates flights a “shambolic” management of reopening borders
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has described the Government's reopening of international borders under level one as ‘shambolic management’, after it emerged that Emirates have cancelled some flights to South Africa.
According to lockdown level 1 regulations, all international crew members and passengers will be required to carry a negative Covid-19 test, that is not older than 72 hours.
DA Shadow Minister of Tourism Manny de Freitas says these regulations are illogical.
“Regulations published by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), which require airline crew to follow the same health protocol as passengers upon arrival to South Africa, are completely illogical considering the stringent measures already taken by international airlines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
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“This senseless regulation is yet another nail in the coffin of South African tourism at the hands of an uncaring government completely out of touch with the very pressing need for economic recovery after an unnecessarily long Coronavirus lockdown has ravaged our economy,” says De Freitas.
De Freitas says there is also a need for government to urgently clarify the list of travellers that are now welcome in South Africa, without visas.
“Information supplied to the DA indicates that virtually every airline is now withdrawing flights to South Africa in the midst of growing confusion relating to international travel. The German federal government has even noted this confusion on their travel warning website, which states that 'confusion is reigning',” adds de Freitas.
