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The Department of Home Affairs has finally announced that the provisions of the controversial visa regulations, which necessitate all minors visiting South Africa to be in possession of their own passports and unabridged birth certificates, as well as that South Africans under the age of 18 must have an unabridged birth certificate and written permission from both parents or guardians at their disposal in which they approve the child’s travel plans, are going to be relaxed.

The Director General of the Department of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apleni, announced in Pretoria on Friday that the above-mentioned measure will be adapted within the next three to twelve months: Minors will in future be required to only have their own passports on hand, but the particulars of the parents will however need to be affixed to the passports.  

This decision follows after months-long, drawn-out infighting between the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, and the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba. 

According to Sue-Ann de Wet, AfriForum’s Project Coordinator for South African Diaspora, this concession comes too late however. “Since the visa regulations were announced for the first time, we have expressed our concerns regarding the effects thereof. South Africa’s tourism industry has already suffered great damage, including a loss of job opportunities. This concession will also not bring relief for everyone and we are once again concerned whether the personnel of the Department of Home Affairs will be informed properly,” said De Wet.

After all these continuous adjustments, AfriForum requests that the Department urgently considers the following:  

Creating a dedicated enquiry channel, where members of the public can sketch their personal circumstances to the Department of Home Affairs to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation at their disposal before travelling.
Performing proper awareness amongst the personnel of the Department as well as the public.
AfriForum is urgently urging parents not to be overconfident, but to stay informed regarding all the measures concerning the travels with minors to avoid disappointment when they wish to travel.

The regulations will be published on AfriForum’s websites (www.afriforum.co.za and www.wereldwyd.co.za).

Issued by AfriForum