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Today’s launch of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a major step forward, making our country easier to visit, while strengthening the security of our borders.

Under Minister of Home Affairs the DA’s Dr Leon Schreiber, South Africa is replacing slow, paper-based visa processes with a secure digital system that allows travellers to apply online, undergo biometric verification and receive their travel authorisation digitally.

This is the kind of reform South Africa needs to unlock jobs and economic growth.

Tourism is one of the most powerful engines for job creation in our country. Every additional legitimate traveller who chooses South Africa means more spending in our hotels, restaurants, attractions and communities, supporting businesses and creating jobs across the tourism economy.

For too long South Africa’s government had made it unnecessarily difficult for people to visit.

Complicated application processes, physical paperwork, passports handed in for processing and long waiting periods all created barriers that made South Africa less competitive against other destinations where legitimate travel was easier.

The ETA launched today changes that for South Africa.

By combining digital applications with advanced biometric verification and machine learning, Minister Schreiber’s new electronic visa system blends convenience with strong security.

Travellers into South Africa will now carry their ETA in their cellphone wallet.

This stands in stark contrast to the damaging visa policies introduced under previous ANC majority government, which placed additional barriers in the way of tourists and undermined South Africa’s competitiveness as a destination.

Minister Schreiber is now reversing that approach by using technology to make South Africa more accessible to legitimate travellers while making our immigration system more secure.

The DA commends Minister Leon Schreiber for driving the digital transformation of Home Affairs and demonstrating what reform can achieve.

Every unnecessary barrier we remove makes South Africa more competitive.

Every additional tourist brings new spending into our economy. And every additional rand spent in South Africa creates new opportunities for investment, growth and jobs.

Issued by Adrian Roos MP - DA Spokesperson on Home Affairs