Covid cases have soared to unprecedented levels since the beginning of the year, and the government has announced plans to roll out a vaccine program this month.
South Africa is one of the worst affected African countries, with more than a million cases and 31,368 deaths.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Thursday that the country will receive 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India.
The minister said the first million doses will arrive this month, and the rest in February. In the first round of vaccination, priority will be given to more than a million health workers in South Africa in both the public and private sectors.
At the same time, there have been heightened fears of a humanitarian crisis at the country’s border with Zimbabwe, where hundreds of workers have been blocked following a national lockdown banning cross-border travel by the Zimbabwean government.
Hundreds of returning residents faced chaotic scenes as authorities delayed cleaning up the travelers, most of whom had traveled for the Christmas holidays.
Nick Mangwana, Zimbabwe’s information secretary, told CNN: “There is no situation. There is no problem on the South African side. cleared.”
However, South Africa’s Home Secretary Aaron Motsoaledi admitted that a humanitarian crisis was underway at the Beitbridge border.
“It is clear that a humanitarian crisis is emerging. I have seen the pictures. People are trying to escape the harsh confinement of Zimbabwe and curfew there,” Motsoaledi said.
The slow pace of clearing up travelers and verifying their Covid-19 certificates by South African authorities has caused frustration among Zimbabwean immigrants.
The government responded to the second wave of infections by returning the country to lockdown level 3 on December 28, imposing stricter restrictions on social gatherings and banning alcohol.
They also enforced the wearing of face masks.