THE review of South Africa’s
new immigration regulations
will not be a dialogue between
the Department of Home
Affairs and the Department of
Tourism alone and follows a
decision taken at a meeting of
Cabinet, says Tourism Minister,
Speaking to TNW on the
sidelines of Meetings Africa,
the minister said: “The
Minister of Trade and Industry
has an interest [as does] the
Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
He added that a meeting
would be convened at a high
level, probably by the Deputy
President.
“The purpose of the review
is to relook at the unabridged
birth certificate requirement
and the visa regulations
to find a way to strike the
right balance,” said Derek,
explaining that the country
required Home Affairs to
protect the country’s national
interests, while the country
also needed to protect
tourism and investment
growth.
The minister was referring
to the requirement for people
to make visa applications in
person and for children to
travel with an unabridged birth
certificate or the equivalent
from their country. “The
requirements are onerous.”
He added that visas on arrival
and multiple-entry visas
needed to be considered.
“I wouldn’t want to predict
the outcome of the review,
but I can say that the
review has to happen. It
has been announced by the
President.” He added that
the review needed to be
concluded sooner rather than
later because the current
uncertainty was not healthy.
