The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, says he has pressed the United Kingdom (UK) to relax travel restrictions imposed on South Africa.
In a televised address to his nation, Mr. Ramaphosa says he has held discussions with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the need to relax travel restrictions imposed on South Africa.
According to him, “We both agreed that decisions of this nature should be informed by science, and we are both hopeful of a positive outcome when the issue comes up for review in the coming days by their scientists.”
Meanwhile, Mr Ramaphosa has announced a new Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
The President stated that the new certificate will ease travel and access to events that require proof of vaccination.
According to him, “Streamlining and standardising proof of vaccination will also go a long way towards getting a number of international travel restrictions both from and into our country eased.”
He gave no timelines for the roll out of the vaccination certificate.
During the televised speech, Mr Ramaphosa announced the easing of some coronavirus restrictions.
Among other things, his African National Congress government reduced the hours of a nationwide curfew, now in place from midnight to 4am. The government has also ended a ban on weekend alcohol sales and allowed larger public gatherings.
The President announced that his government plans to administer 250,000 first dose vaccinations every single weekday until mid-December.
