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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 08 Nov 2005 Title: SA waives transit visa requirement for some foreigners --------------------------------------------------------------- By David Masango, tel: (012) 314-2230 Most foreign nationals will from December not be required to produce transit visas to travel through South Africa, including using the transit areas of the country's ports of entry. The Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has approved the changes to the country's transit visa policy. The department has also informed airlines, travel agents and travelers of changes in this regard. However, the department explained that foreign nationals from some countries were excluded from the new arrangement and would therefore have to apply for and produce a visa in transit through South Africa. "Conveyors such as airlines that convey travelers without the necessary transit visas to ports of entry of South Africa will incur an administrative fine of R10 000 for each passenger so conveyed," warned the department. The countries exempt from the new arrangement are Bangladesh, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, a home affairs official told BuaNews that the arrangement had been in the pipeline for some time. "The Department of Foreign Affairs negotiates the arrangement and the home affairs department implements them on their behalf," said the official. The department said reasons for some countries being excluded from the arrangement was because they had no visa agreement with the South African government. The purpose of a visa is to ensure proper screening of applicants so that undesirable persons are not admitted to the country and to facilitate the entry of approved applicants at South African ports of entry. Visas provide immigration officers with the necessary information to ensure that applicants are admitted for the correct purpose and period into the country. But, since every country has the sovereign right to decide who may or may not enter its territory, the possession of a visa however does not guarantee automatic admission to the Republic. It only authorises the holder to proceed to the country to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry for the purpose of being examined as to his/her ability or otherwise, to comply with the (entry) requirements. - BuaNews |
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