It will also require civil servants to show proof of vaccination in order to be admitted to work, although this will be done in consultation with the unions.

The new measures were announced on Sunday during a joint update on the Covid situation in the country.

Health Minister Sylvia Masebo announced a raft of new measures, including a requirement for all visitors coming from high-risk countries to be quarantined for 10 days at their own cost.

She also announced heightened surveillance including at border points, markets and in public transport.

She said the country was rolling out a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting at least two million people by Christmas day.

It comes amid a looming fourth wave of coronavirus infections and after the recent discovery of a new Covid variant cases in neighbouring countries.