Makhura: Inter-provincial travel a major concern
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has expressed deep concern over government granting permission to South Africans to move across provinces.
Makhura on Thursday gave an update on the province’s efforts to combat Covid-19.
“What worries us is interprovincial movement. We have people who left this province. They work here, this is their home but they have homes in the provinces elsewhere in the country. The largest numbers will come from Limpopo, followed by KZN and the Eastern Cape,” he said.
Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s confirmed on Wednesday that inter-provincial travel will be allowed for one day only when the country moves to level four of the lockdown.
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This could lead to a spike in coronavirus infections, Makhura said.
“Just when you think you have contained Covid-19, especially when you have re-opened the economy and if it is done in a way that is too soon and too much, you can hit another huge spike.”
Gauteng was initially the epicentre of the virus but has been overtaken by the Western Cape. To date it has 1408 Covid-19 infections and 11 deaths.
The country is preparing to enter lockdown level 4 on Friday, which entails the gradual re-opening of the economy.