Facebook rumours concerning a relaxation of the rule requiring PCR tests for all travellers inbound into South Africa have caused a great deal of confusion.

Yet Tourism Update understands that a PCR test – taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin – is still required for entry.

Air Mauritius has sent out a notice to the trade advising them of the necessity for a PCR test certificate (no other type of test will suffice), for travellers returning to South Africa.

The airline says all travellers must undergo a PCR test within the 72 hours prior to their departure for South Africa. The airline stresses that no other test is acceptable.

The statement says: “Recent records show that some returning passengers to JNB are not aware of the mandatory PCR test to be taken within 72 hours prior to the flight. Some are reporting with the antigen tests only. This is not accepted and (those passengers) will be denied boarding on their return to South Africa.

The confusion being discussed on Facebook concerns the wording of the latest two amendments to Direction 6, contained in updates to a Government Gazette dated October 21.

January 29, 2021

The wording of Direction 6, in an update on January 29, 2021 said:

(a) A traveller must provide a valid negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate, obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel, from an accredited laboratory and in line with World Health Organization requirements.

July 25, 2021
However, a subsequent update, dated July 25, 2021, has dropped the term PCR test, and reads:
All international travellers arriving at the airports listed in paragraph (a) must provide a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 test, recognised by the World Health Organization, which was obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel.

October 21, 2021
The latest update, dated October 21, 2021, also contains no mention of a PCR test:

(a) A traveller must provide a valid certificate with a negative COVID-19 test outcome, recognised by the World Health Organization, or equivalent local accredited authority, obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel. South African authorities reserve the right to verify the authenticity of the presented certificate;

But, a staff member of the Department of Health, Port Health division, told Tourism Update that there had been no relaxation of the requirement for a PCR test to allow travellers to enter South Africa, “as stipulated in the Health Directions gazetted in December 2020”.

The staff member said only the Department of Health could amend the testing requirement, which it hadn’t done. Amendments made by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) did not effectively alter the type of test required, because it was the Department of Health that decided on the type of test.

“The Health Directions have not been amended since December 2020,” they said. “A COVID test means a PCR test, which is stipulated in the health directions.”