Insights provided at the virtual meeting between South African and British scientific experts yesterday (September 27) will be taken into account for the next review of the UK’s traffic-light system.

The next review – which takes place every three weeks – is set for the end of next week or early the following week.

There have been widespread calls for Britain to review its September 17 decision to keep South Africa and several other southern and East African countries on its red list, which led to widespread disbelief and frustration amongst scientists and the business community in South Africa.

Inbound industry association, SATSA – which has been running a campaign in the UK to get SA removed from the red list by October 1 – described the latest decision as a “kick in the teeth” with CEO, David Frost, expressing frustration that the “small levels” of the Beta variant (which is reportedly resistant to vaccines) is behind the decision to keep South Africa on the red list.

A meeting between the Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu, and Acting UK High Commissioner to South Africa, Adam Bye, last week – followed by mounting media, government and private sector pressure – led to yesterday’s meeting.

A delegation of seven South African officials – which includes scientists, representatives from the ministerial advisory committee, and health department members – held a virtual meeting with UK scientists today to allay concerns that the Beta variant of COVID-19 is still circulating in South Africa.

Discussions at the meeting included the latest COVID-19 trends, including COVID-19 testing strategies and the prevalence and risks posed to vaccination programmes by variants of concern, according to a joint statement by the National Department of Health and the British High Commission in South Africa.

"The UK and SA are both leading scientific nations, and the meeting was initiated by the UK High Commission and South African government to ensure the most up-to-date and accurate sharing of information," the statement read.

"The UK side expressed its gratitude to SA experts for their willingness to share both data and expertise."

Experts from both countries also discussed the recognition of vaccine certificates.

"The UK side explained that, following some initial pilots, it was now seeking to extend its recognition of vaccine certificates around the world as rapidly as possible," the statement read.

The UK also allegedly expressed its willingness to take forward discussions with the South African government on this matter.

Meeting with Shapps

Speaking at World Tourism Day yesterday (September 27), Deputy Minister of Tourism, Amos Fish Mahlalela, also addressed this issue, noting that getting SA’s risk status revised in key source markets was a priority for government.

He said he had requested a meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, who is leading the Task Force dealing with transportation and the restrictions.

“I am told that Brazil and a few other countries also still have us on some restrictions. This is also a matter that we are busy with. We are all hands on deck,” said Mahlalela.

 “I must also indicate that some of the concerns that are being raised include issues around the vaccination certificate, including the digital vaccination certificate, which Cabinet is busy with.”

Join forces?

Nigel Vere Nicoll, President and Group MD of the African Travel and Tourism Association – which has also been lobbying as part of a UK travel collective to get African countries removed from the UK’s red list – suggested in a recent op-ed piece in the London-based Travel Trade Gazette that perhaps the African Ambassadors and High Commissioners based in London could join together and speak as one voice for the African continent.

“One combined group who could make a lot of noise and gain much-needed media attention,” he said.

Vere Nicoll pointed out that it was not simply the African countries that were facing dire economic consequences as a result of Britain’s travel restrictions. “The UK operators are facing financial ruin as they are not only losing their market share to US and European operators who are free to send their clients to Africa, but also the valued furlough employment support which ends this week.

“In short, both those who service – and those who supply – Africa’s tourism need urgent help.”