Oxygen supply not impacted by Noordoewer border closure

ELLANIE SMIT



WINDHOEK

The Noordoewer border post between Namibia and South Africa was closed for several hours on Tuesday after an official from the health ministry tested positive for Covid-19.

This caused delays in supplies and commodities that were expected to enter through the border as well as delays in traveller itineraries.

Spokesperson for the home affairs ministry Margaret Kalo confirmed on Tuesday that the border had to be closed for fumigation of the offices at the border post.

Kalo said because Namibia’s side had to close due to the positive coronavirus case and fumigation activities, the South African offices at Vioolsdrift automatically also had to close.

She, however, added that the border was opened again at 19:00 yesterday evening as expected and that everything is running smoothly again.

Other route

Meanwhile, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula said he was not aware of the incident or the closure of the border.

Asked whether this in any way impacted the supply of oxygen Namibia is desperately in need of for Covid-19 patients, he said trucks carrying commodities such as medicines usually make use of the Ariamsvlei border as they are come from Gauteng, not the Cape.