The Department of Home Affairs says additional personnel will be deployed to the country’s border posts to deal with the expected congestion when people return to the country.
This followed the recent delays at the Beitbridge border which led to vehicles, including trucks, queuing for several kilometres for several days.
Home Affairs said on Wednesday that 160 additional personnel would be deployed to the six busiest border crossings.
Another 60 additional immigration law enforcement officers will be deployed to support the SA National Defence Force at identified high-risk areas along the borderline.
Home Affairs says the immigration officers and the soldiers are not there to stop people from coming into South Africa but to ensure there are no illegal crossings.
The Department said more than 259 Port Health officials would be deployed to all ports of entry while 278 community service personnel on contract would also be deployed.
The National Health Laboratory Services would enlist private laboratories to provide additional support for testing.
South African Military Health Services has been requested to provide 73 additional military health personnel to help in the testing.
