Question NW1308 to the Minister of Home Affairs

McGluwa, Mr JJ to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

(1) (a) What number of (i) Chinese nationals travelled to the Republic in (aa) November 2019, (bb) December 2019, (cc) January 2020, (dd) February 2020 and (ee) March 2020 and (ii) the specified travellers were from Wuhan and (b) what provinces did they visit; (2) whether all the Chinese nationals who had travelled to the Republic in the specified months had left the country; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there have been outbreaks of Covid-19 in the areas where the Chinese nationals had visited during their stay in the Republic; if so, what are the relevant details? QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NO. 1308 DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY, 19 JUNE 2020 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 22 – 2020 1308.Mr J J McGluwa (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs (1)(a) What number of (i) Chinese nationals travelled to the Republic in (aa) November 2019, (bb) December 2019, (cc) January 2020, (dd) February 2020 and (ee) March 2020 and (ii) the specified travellers were from Wuhan and (b) what provinces did they visit; (2)whether all the Chinese nationals who had travelled to the Republic in the specified months had left the country; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3)whether there have been outbreaks of Covid-19 in the areas where the Chinese nationals had visited during their stay in the Republic; if so, what are the relevant details?NW1676E REPLY: (1)(a)(i) Month Arrivals Nov-19 11 869 Dec-19 8 932 Jan-20 14 055 Feb-20 4 852 Mar-20 2 022 (1)(a)(ii)The central government of China imposed a lockdown in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei on 23 January 2020. This meant no travel in or out of the city was allowed. In addition to the lockdown, the following should be noted: South African Airways (SAA) terminated operations from Beijing Capital International Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in November 2019. Air China (CA) operated direct flights from Bao'an (Huangtian) International Airport in Shenzhen and Beijing Capital International Airport to ORTIA daily. Cathy Pacific (CX) operated from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to ORTIA. During the period of the Corona outbreak, all travellers arriving at HKG from China who spend more than 14 days in China were returned. Singapore Airlines (SQ) operated from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to ORTIA. With the outbreak in China, all travellers arriving at SIN from China who spend more than 14 days in China were returned. Japan and South Korea also informed South Africa through diplomatic channels that South African citizens arriving from China who spend more than 14 days in China during that period would be returned to China. This was followed by more than 30 other countries. (1)(a)(iii)None, as lockdown was imposed on Wuhan and other cities in Hubei from 23 January 2020. This meant no travel in or out of the city was allowed, including international travel to South Africa. (2)Not all Chinese nationals that travelled into the Republic left the country. This is mainly due to the lockdown in Wuhan that did not allow for the return of travellers to curb the spread of COVID19. It should also be noted that some Chinese Nationals entered South Africa on longer term visas for purposes such as study and work Month Arrivals Departures Difference Nov-19 11 869 11 696 173 Dec-19 8 932 12 381 -3 449 Jan-20 14 055 12 829 1 226 Feb-20 4 852 5 050 -198 Mar-20 2 022 2 970 -948 Total: 41 730 44 926 -3 196 (3)This question should be directed to the Department of Health. END