Breaking news: Germany lifts extended entry ban on South Africa Lorne Philpot 17 hrs ago

A number of South Africans who have had their lives thrown into disarray through being trapped in South Africa by?Germany’s extended travel ban ?are finally able to move on with their lives.?

According to the founder of the action group Work-Love-Study is not Tourism, the entry ban has been lifted allowing approved visa-holders to travel to Germany from this Sunday.?Moneyweb states ?that Germany’s travel restrictions on 8 countries previously classified as Beta variant destinations will be lifted on 31 July.

GERMANY’S TRAVEL BAN ON SA

Germany imposed an entry ban on South Africa earlier this year in order to mitigate the risk of the Beta strain of the Coronavirus being imported into that country.

This lengthy travel ban did not only apply to South Africans wishing to travel to Germany for tourist visits but also to South Africans who needed to enter Germany to take up employment, begin studies at educational institutions, or join spouses and partners in Germany.?

Feeling despondent and frustrated Cape Town resident Kelly Dido, who had spent months living out of suitcases at different addresses throughout the city while waiting to be allowed to travel to Germany to take up employment there decided to find out if anyone else out there shared her predicament.?

Dido felt that there had to be other South Africans in the same boat as she was.?She used social media to reach out to others and discovered several others who also could not get on with their lives by being unable to travel to Germany.

STANDING UP AND BEING HEARD

Upon learning that she was not alone Dido felt compelled to act.?She decided to be the catalyst for change.

After unearthing a number of others who were in the same situation Dido formed the Work-Love-Study is Not Tourism action group which she used as a mechanism to bring about awareness of the plight of a number of South Africans who were living under a dark cloud due to Germany’s ongoing entry ban.??????

From South Africa to Germany and even other corners of the globe, Dido raised awareness of the plight of the South Africans impacted by Germany’s entry ban.

Her gutsy never-be-beaten approach took her story far and wide as it made?national news in South Africa ?and?abroad .?The issue was also raised in Germany when Dido engaged with Germany’s Federal Minister of Health, Mr. Jens Spahn, in a Live virtual Q&A session.???

VICTORY AT LAST

Dido’s relentless passion and dedication for righting wrongs and delivering justice for those who have had to put their lives on hold for many months have been well-served.

Germany no longer considers South Africa and eight other African countries as so-called virus variant areas, the German Health Ministry said on Friday, in a move that will ease Germany’s strict travel restrictions.

Those who have been impacted by the extended entry ban against South Africans now see light at the end of the tunnel. The change will make it possible for South Africans to travel to Germany, subject to proof of vaccination or a negative test result.???

After 3 weeks of working tirelessly and campaigning for Germany to lift the entry ban on South Africa – which was banned due to its classification as a Beta variant dominant destination when in fact the Delta variant had become more prevalent in the country, Dido and the members of the group are now able to travel to Germany.???

“I literally worked 24/7.?I cannot believe in 3 weeks life can change. These were 3 very intense weeks.?I didn’t stop,” Dido said.

IT DOESN’T END HERE

Through its work, Dido’s campaign attracted the attention of individuals – in countries further afield?– who are also unable to get on with their lives by being unable to travel to Germany to take up employment or start their studies or join their spouses or partners.

Dido says that she has received requests for assistance from individuals in South America who are also subject to similar entry bans imposed on them by German authorities.

Although Dido will soon be departing South Africa to take up employment with a multinational company in Germany, she says she will continue to raise awareness for the plight of individuals not able to get on with their lives due to the ongoing entry ban against other countries.

“I’ve connected with individuals in South America.?We will continue to fight this together.??It’s not a win till there’s a chance for these countries too.?Covid-19 is going to be around for a while and there needs to be exemptions for individuals for work, love and study.?We’ve achieved so much in 3 weeks.?Imagine what we could do with more time,” Dido said.