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The government has issued travel guidelines to South Africans planning to travel abroad over the Festive season.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, provided the Department's 2020 overview on Monday, highlighting that the government had repatriated over 30 000 South Africans who were stranded overseas due to lockdowns imposed in foreign countries.
She said from the time Level 5 lockdown was announced, the Department of International Relations through its consular services used over 350 flights to repatriate thousands of citizens stranded abroad.
Pandor said this number excluded the tens of thousands who used the country's land borders.
The Minister said the experience made them realise the importance of ensuring that all South Africans who intend travelling abroad during this season were equipped with the right information to prevent any negative situation.
In this regard, she noted countries in the Northern hemisphere were encountering a second wave of the pandemic.
"South Africans should be cautious in travelling to these countries as you might become distressed or even destitute abroad pending the levels of lockdown in the respective countries and with the likelihood of international flights that might be cancelled at short notice," she said.
Minister Pandor said any South Africans travelling abroad will be doing so "at your own risk to these countries knowing the current circumstances and the uncertainty going forward."
She appealed to travellers to familiarise themselves with the immigration and health entry requirements of the country being visited as well as South Africa's entry health requirement during the pandemic.
"If you have any uncertainty regarding the entry health requirements of the country you will be visiting, then please contact their Embassy in SA for assistance. If you need any clarity re the health entry requirements upon your return to SA, then please consult the website of the Department of Health," Pandor said.
She also appealed to South Africans travelling abroad to ensure they have "adequate travel insurance", should register with the SA embassies abroad, meet all foreign visa requirements and "read thoroughly on the country you intend to visit as the global situation is unstable."
Pandor said a Covid19 test was compulsory.
