Travel insurance to enter South Africa no longer mandatory

The required travel insurance to cover COVID-19-related costs for international visitors to South Africa has been lifted and is no longer applicable.

The Disaster Management Act Amendment of Regulations gazetted on November 11, does not mention travel insurance that was previously required.

To travel locally, the previously mandatory health questionnaires are also no longer required. Domestic Port Health Screening countrywide has stopped as of midnight, November 24.

(a) the traveller providing a valid certificate of a negative test which was obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel: and

(b) in the event of the traveller’s failure to submit a certificate as proof of a negative test, the traveller will be required to quarantine him or herself at his or her own costs.

This is a relief for travel insurers, who were getting the short end of the stick, saying there was no way an insurance policy as low as R400 (the required minimum amount) could be expected to cover the costs of COVID-19-related medical procedures.

However, the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA ) said travel insurance is still a ‘non-negotiable’ for those travelling overseas, and will give travellers peace of mind.

‘The situation is incredibly fluid for the moment. Countries can move from low-risk to high-risk at any time and adjust their entry requirements at very short notice. Travellers often wonder what happens if they test positive or get sick at their destination. Travel insurance is therefore non-negotiable,’ Rachael Penaluna, the business manager at Sure Maritime Travel told ASATA.