12 Jul 2020

The Presidential COVID-19 Task Force coordinator, Dr Kereng Masupu has urged officials at Martins Drift Border Post to do a thorough search on trucks crossing the border into the country.

In an interview after touring the border post on July 9, Dr Masupu said the COVID-19 team had observed that some unscrupulous truck drivers smuggled illegal immigrants into the country.

With increasing positive cases in neighbouring countries, he said, such people posed a serious risk that could result in local transmission of the corona virus. He urged truck drivers to stop the illegal act, adding that whoever was caught doing so would face stiff penalties.

Dr Masupu encouraged members of the community to report border jumpers to the police.

They were also encouraged to register for Bsafe, an application which helps in contact tracing.

Dr Masupu who visited the border to appreciate the level of preparedness towards COVID-19 pandemic, urged health officials to fast track the movement of trucks from the border by releasing truck drivers who tested negative to continue with their journey as soon as their results were released.

He said truck drivers should not be kept at the border for long, to minimise complaints and to enable goods to reach their destination on time.

He was grateful to the veterinary Services staff at the border, who worked tirelessly to disinfect trucks crossing into the country, noting that what they were doing helped minimise the transmission of the virus.

Officials from various departments were encouraged to work hard to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are adhered to, at all times.

Martins Drift Border Post officer in charge, Mr Onkemetse Isaac thanked Dr Masupu for the visit and assured him that no truck driver went through without being tested.

He said so far, the border had recorded 74 positive cases, who were truck drivers from Zambia.

He said those testing positive were placed on quarantine or repatriated to their country of origin.

Mr Isaac raised a concern that officials had not been able to search trucks because of shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

 

He noted that the PPEs were recently availed and the officers would now be able to search the trucks. ends