South Africa’s top diplomat to Australia has accused the Australian federal government of being discriminatory towards African countries after the country imposed travel bans over the new Omicron variant of the CCP virus. Australia suspended flights from nine southern African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Seychelles, Malawi, and Mozambique, after the new Omicron variant was detected on the continent. All travellers from the region other than Australian citizens and permanent residents have been banned. The new variant also resulted in a two-week delay before the return of international students and working visa holders, who are now set to return from Dec. 15. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South Africa’s high commissioner to Australia, urged Australia to overturn the travel ban, arguing that a large number of Omicron cases are being recorded in other areas in the world and are not limited to Africa. He also said that South …