COVID-19: Inter-provincial travel ban temporarily lifted
Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, says a once off window period will be open until the 7th of May for people who need to travel between or return to their provinces.
Mbalula addressed members of the media on the amendments to the transport related regulations implemented from yesterday.
The news comes just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the National Coronavirus Command Council would re-open the economy in a phased approach.
Mbalula says this will be for people who did not get a chance to travel between provinces, metropolitan and district areas when the lockdown began.
"Until the 7th of May citizens will be allowed to reestablish themselves. The opportunity is not for social visits. So perhaps you are a student or a doctor but when the lockdown came into effect you were stuck in another province", he said.
"Long distance public transport will be allowed but no plane travel is permitted", Mbalula added.
The minister said outside of this window, no inter-provincial travel will be allowed.
"Travel between provinces, metros and districts will be prohibited with concession made for workers who have to travel to and from work on a daily basis" he said.
The ban on cruise liners, international and domestic flights is still in place.
"We will only allow repatriation flights to continue operating", the minister said.