One of Africa’s Busiest Borders Closed to Control Covid Outbreak

South Africa’s decision to shut its land borders to most travel to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has blocked hundreds of thousands of foreigners trying to return to work after the December holidays.

Beitbridge, the only legal road crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa — and southern Africa’s busiest inland border post — was worst affected. Even before the Jan. 11 announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that 20 of South Africa’s land border posts would be closed to almost all travelers except those hauling freight, people waited for as long as four days in lines of traffic that stretched miles from the gate.