Ntsoaki Motaung
The Ministry of Home Affairs has heeded the Premier’s call for a stay-at-home and temporarily suspended all its services for the duration of the two-week long national lockdown.
The Prime-Minster Dr Moeketsi Majoro announced a national lockdown which came into effect yesterday (Thursday January, 14, 2021) because of the country’s Covid-19 prevalence status.
According to the statement released by the ministry this week, all the services provided will remain suspended safe reporting of obituaries and registration of deaths.
Officers from the ministry are now based in the country’s various community councils to register every death regardless of where it happens-home or hospital.
“However, the ministry has realised that there are some services that the public might need as a matter of emergency according to the COVID-19 rules and regulations, which are; application for travel documents, application for birth certificate and national Identity document. On the border posts, only patients, business persons, students, migrant workers with permits, daily commuters and people who will be crossing for funeral purposes will be allowed to cross in and or out of the country,†reads the statement in part.
In the Department of Immigration, the public has been informed that all migrant workers whose permits are due for expiration during the 14-day nationwide lockdown, will have their documents regarded as valid hence tenable for use.
“The ministry is still continuing with the operation to ensure that migrants living in the country have legal documentation. During the operation we are still continuing to stop migrants who try to enter the country with forged documents. Today only we have arrested two migrants at Moshoeshoe I international airport, while last week one person. We will continue to do whatever it takes to protect the country,†said the ministry in a statement. fffffffffffffff
