Here is an account of what it was like to travel during the lockdowns. There were confusing regulations worldwide. For me, January 31st, 2020 was a watershed day. It was my last return trip from Qatar before the real bite of the coronavirus pandemic set in. President Donald Trump of the USA had banned flights from China to the US the day before. Who knew it would change all of us so much? At the end of 2020, I was commissioned to conduct a certification audit process in the Kingdom of Eswatini [formerly Swaziland]. This meant doing a border crossing during lockdowns in both countries. Travel restrictions were lighter than they had been previously, so I enquired what I needed to do. This is where the real ‘fun’ started. Many Governmentwebsites held old versions of the travel restrictions for South African citizens. I tried the Department of Home Affairs, finding only old information for Level 5 restrictions while this was now Level 3. I sent several emails to the contacts given. No replies. I attempted to call but was unsuccessful. I was directed to DIRCO. Here, at least , I did get some service. It was suggested that I call the border post for a better result. So, I called the border post and asked what documents and processes I needed. I was told that I needed a letter from the party inviting me to Eswatini, giving the reason for my travel. I also needed a letter from the Eswatini Government giving me permission to travel. I had sent a formal email application to our own Department of Home Affairs for the same travel authorisation but never heard back from them! One piece of pleasant news is that the local Eswatini Consulate gave excellent service and understood my needs. Based on the letter from the inviting Eswatini business (a government agency), they gave me a travel permit document. Their website worked. Their telephones were answered. Service was delivered. All I then needed was a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. By the time I set off to get to the Oshoek border gate close to Mbabane, I still had heard nothing from the South African authorities. I was armed with all my correspondence, letters and emails plus the Covid test results. Then the ‘fun’ really started. At passport control, I was told to wait as they processed my request to enter Eswatini due to not having some sort of a travel permit from South Africa! I could show that I had been asking for such authorisation for over 3 weeks. After waiting for 2 hours without any feedback, I saw a poster with the contact number of the Senior Manager of the border post. I called him directly. After explaining my situation, he said he would contact his team to sort it all out. Then they would call me. They didn’t. An hour and a half later, I called the Senior Manager again. Now I learned that he was not even at the border post but several hours' drive away! 30 minutes later, I was called and my passport was stamped with an exit stamp. I crossed the border after a 4-hour wait. The Eswatini side presented with a ‘new’ challenge. I have been travelling very regularly to Eswatini on business since 2016. My passport has many stamps at that border crossing. This time, however, was the first time I was asked why I was travelling. I said it was to help a local government agency with an audit, as per the invitation letter and the Consulate's supporting documents. ‘Where is your work permit?’ I did not have one and no one has ever said I needed one to enter the country since 2016. After a long discussion, a note was placed in my passport and an entry stamp was provided. I was in. It was only after I left again at my next entry that I found out that I was supposed to have arranged the ‘work permit’ during my brief stay! I have been back since and travel has mostly normalised, except for the PCR test requirements. I am no longer asked why I am entering the country. Just a stamp and a friendly smile and, ‘oh don’t forget to pay the road tax’. I am off to Zambia next week. Despite the fact that South Africa's State of Disaster has been lifted, Zambia still has stricter travel requirements. The PCR test is a must, and they are still wearing masks indoors and outdoors according to available travel advisories. That seems strange as most of the world have recognised Omicron variants pose no more risk than a bad cold. To return to SA, there are no longer border restrictions. It seems this Covid effect is going to hang around for a while longer. Do you have a ‘Covid’ travel experience you would like to share with the VUKA NEWS team? Find VUKA SA on the Telegram app and tell us all about it. May ‘normal’ return soon.
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