Coronavirus screening is being blamed for delays as migrant workers take longer to get clearance to return home for the holidays.

On Wednesday, TV news channel the showed cars and trucks queuing for miles on the narrow road leading to the port, the main crossing points between the two countries.

Local media is reporting that a lack of facilities there is causing exhaustion and ill health.

The South African government and police have not responded to Reuters requests for information on the deaths.

South Africa, which the United Nations says hosts around 1.5 million Zimbabwean migrants, his suffering a second wave of covert 19 infections.

Authorities suspect the surgeon cases has been triggered by a genetic mutation off the disease.