More visa restrictions on the way: Gigaba
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says the country may reciprocate the decision by a number of countries to impose visa restrictions on South African passport holders.
On Tuesday, the minister announced that South Africa has withdrawn the visa exemption for New Zealand passport holders in response to its withdrawal of visa free travel arrangements for South Africans.
Gigaba noted that South Africa’s visa fees are of the lowest in the world and for the past 14 years had remained at R425 for most of the visa categories and R1,520 for permits and work, business and corporate visas.
“However, the department will in due course increase its visa and permit fees to align with inflation,” he said.
“We have further noted that in recent times, a number of countries have imposed visa restrictions on South African passport holders. And in the past, we have not reciprocated due to reasons including tourism considerations particularly in the light of the new immigration regulations that we are implementing,” Gigaba said.
Read: These are countries South Africans can visit without a visa
He said that the country has been of the considered view that it should not unduly impose severe restrictions on other states and their citizens wishing to travel to SA. “It is not our policy to deter foreign visitors or to reduce the flow of tourists, business people and other travellers to our country,” Gigaba said.
He said that evidence appeared to indicate that the supposed impact of South Africa’s policies on tourism is far from the picture elsewhere painted.
“The Department of Home Affairs has further noted inconveniences experienced by our citizens given the visa restrictions imposed on us, as well as the reputational risks of being perceived as unsafe by some countries.”
“I have therefore directed the department to look closely at the decisions of these countries and advise accordingly whether or not South Africa should reciprocate also in these instances,” Gigaba said.
The minister stressed that South Africa does not pose a threat to other countries.
News24 reported that tourist arrival figures to SA, climbed 14.8% in the first half of 2016, from the 2015 figure.
Read: UK shuts the door on visa-free travel for South Africans
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