- From OR Tambo airport to the streets of Cape Town, satellite images show the impact of South Africa's national Covid-19 lockdown.
- Once busy highways are eerily quiet, and even Durban harbour is nearly deserted.
- For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
From OR Tambo International airport to Cape Town, satellite images show just how much South Africa has changed under a national Covid-19 lockdown.
Using Planet Labs satellite imagery, Business insider South Africa examined some of the busiest places in SA, now mostly dormant under the 21-day national hunkering down,
While South Africans are still getting used to the idea of life in lockdown, similar measures elsewhere have resulted in a decrease in emissions and air pollution in countries like China, and reports of wildlife returning to urban spaces in several countries.
From space you can see South Africa’s empty airports, vacant streets, and harbours
Once busy highways in Johannesburg are now empty:
The Buccleuch Interchange which connects Fourways and Midrand to Johannesburg is empty.
As is Gillooly's Interchange, another notorious traffic congestion spot in Bedfordview.
Cape Town's Foreshore is likewise devoid of traffic...
...and so is Cape Town International Airport.
Durban's harbour, KwaZulu-Natal.
According to data on MyShipTracking, the Port of Durban has only vessel in port.
By creating a time-lapse we can see the port stacking huge quantities of containers.
Most striking of all is OR Tambo International Airport.
South Africa's largest airport, at its full movement capacity can move 53 aircraft per hour.
Both terminals are vacant and dozens of smaller planes have been moved to warehouses.
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Also from Business Insider South Africa:
- SA has banned the export of face masks, hand sanitiser – and an unproven Covid-19 drug
- Coronavirus: Standard Bank extends payment holidays to personal accounts too
- ‘High level’ talks are now underway to allow cigarette sales during SA’s lockdown
- Absa customers (in good standing) are about to be invited to a 3-month Covid-19 debt holiday
- Payouts of up to R6 700 per month: This is what workers in struggling firms could get from govt
- Coronavirus: Standard Bank extends payment holidays to personal accounts too
- ‘High level’ talks are now underway to allow cigarette sales during SA’s lockdown
- Flu vaccines can help fight Covid-19 - but South Africa doesn't have enough
