Cape Town International will join OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airport as one of the three airports in South Africa that will receive international visitors from October, 1.
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula visited the city on Thursday, September, 24 to inspect the airport and announce new COVID-19 regulations related to transport, as the country moves to lockdown level 1, according to a media advisory issued by government.
CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:
We are ready to welcome back the world on our shores. I’m impressed by the work done by @Airports_ZA at @capetownint – the measures put in place will protect our people. #covid19SA pic.twitter.com/dCOoigOM4y
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) September 24, 2020
Airports Company South Africa CEO, Mpumi Mpofu, said that a number of airlines had applied for slots while waiting for the final list of countries that will be allowed into SA to be approved.
Mpofu also reports that there has been an increase in passenger numbers over the last two weeks, which is a positive sign, and according to projections the number will increase in the second half of September.
A thermal imaging scanner that can read body temperature from a distance and an ‘e-gate’ are some of the technological innovations that will be employed to ensure passenger safety. “We are actually going to be pushing passengers with efficient systems, but also safe systems,” said Mpofu to EWN.
Mbalula inspected various parts of the airport’s facilities to make sure that they were compliant with COVID-19 regulations and equipped to deal with an increase in travellers.
However, the Minister did not announce any new regulations or clarify which nationalities would be allowed to visit the country.
The Daily Maverick reports that Mbalula arrived an hour late and when he was questioned about the new regulations, he cautiously replied that the department was ‘looking at’ offering more train lines and resuming long-distance services.
Mbalula is expected to reveal the new regulations and travel list before international travel resumes next week.
Picture: Twitter/@mbalulafikile