Botswana has issued a travel warning to its citizens, advising them against journeying to the Kingdom of Eswatini and the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces in South Africa.
The Botswana Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, in a statement, said the warning became necessary due to the incidents of violence in the areas.
The South African cities have been experiencing violent clashes and looting of shops and malls since former President Jacob Zuma began a 15-month jail term for contempt of court. No fewer than 30 people have reportedly died in stampedes during the looting in the areas.
The ministry advised truckers to use alternative routes while conducting business in the flagged areas.
The statement read in part, “… the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation wishes to advise the citizens of the Republic of Botswana to avoid unnecessary travel to some parts of South Africa, particularly KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provinces, due to the ongoing incidents of violence and unrest in those areas.
“Batswana who are already in South Africa are advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary movements, especially in cities such as Johannesburg and Durban. Batswana truck drivers are also advised to consider alternative routes to avoid protest areas,” said the ministry.
Eswatini has been the site of protests for several weeks, and the Botswanan government cautioned its citizens “to avoid unnecessary travel to the Kingdom” due to civil unrest in the country.
