Covid cases have risen to unprecedented levels since the beginning of the year, and the government has announced plans to introduce a vaccination program this month.
South Africa is one of the worst affected African countries, with more than one million cases and 31,368 deaths, as of Wednesday.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Thursday that the country will receive 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India.
The minister said the first million doses would arrive this month, with the rest delivered in February. South Africa’s more than one million public and private health workers will be preferred in the first round of vaccinations.
At the same time, there is a greater fear of a humanitarian crisis on the country’s border with Zimbabwe, where hundreds of workers have been blocked following a national lockdown banning travel by the Zimbabwean government.
Hundreds of returning residents faced chaotic scenes as authorities delayed the travelers, most of whom traveled for the Christmas holidays.
Zimbabwe’s intelligence secretary Nick Mangwana told CNN: “There is no situation. There is no problem on the South African side. Zimbabweans who are there wanted to close the deadline, and most of them are by Tuesday at 15:00 cleared. ”
However, South African Home Secretary Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged that a humanitarian crisis was underway at the Beitbridge border.
“It is clear that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. I have seen the pictures. People are trying to lock up Zimbabwe’s hard and escape the evening clock there,” Motsoaledi said.
The slow pace of travelers’ clearing and verification of their Covid-19 certificates by South African authorities has caused frustration among Zimbabwean immigrants.
The government responded to the second wave of infections by moving the country back to closure level 3 on December 28, imposing stricter restrictions on social gatherings and banning alcohol.
They also enforced the mandatory wearing of face masks.