26 Mar 2020

Six South Africans, who were quarantined at Selebi Phikwe’s Industrial clinic, have been repatriated.

The six included five women and a man aged between 56 and 76, who were to attend a relative’s funeral in Selebi Phikwe.

Selebi Phikwe Hospital public relations officer, Ms Onalethata Nkwe, said in an interview that the six were transported to Ramatlabama to ensure that they reached the border post without any contact with other people.

Ms Nkwe added that they were also under police escort to ensure that they complied with precautionary measures that had been put in place to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the hospital had been screening them daily as well as providing them with food and other necessities.

“We have also provided them with food and water for their journey to Ramatlabama so that they do not make stop overs to buy food,” she said.

The six, who were coming from Mafikeng in the North West Province, were handed over to the South African authorities at Ramatlabama Border Post.

As part of the COVID-19 preventative measures, only returning Batswana and foreigners residing in Botswana would be allowed entry into the country then go through a 14-day mandatory quarantine. ENDS