http://www.pmg.org.za/node/29273
QUESTION 660 / NW706E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 04 March 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 4 of 2011
Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(a) Which countries have (i) escalated their visa requirements for travel by holders of South African passports and (ii) discontinued bilateral agreements on travel by holders of South African passports since 1 January 2005 up to the latest date for which information is available, (b) what are the reasons in each case and (c) what steps has she taken to deal with the concerns of each specified country?
NW706E
REPLY:
(a)(i) - The United Kingdom introduced visa requirements for South African passport holders with effect from 3 March 2009.
- In 2010 Nigeria added a deposit requirement for first-time South African travellers to Nigeria.
(a)(ii) No countries have discontinued bilateral agreements on travel by South African passport holders.
(b) The United Kingdom expressed concerns regarding the security features of South African passports, and the integrity, thereof, since many travellers were found to be in possession of passports that were acquired fraudulently.
In terms of the Visa regime, the South African Government imposes a deposit for first time travellers from Nigeria to South Africa, which is refundable. The Nigerian Government, then, took a decision in 2010 to, also, impose the deposit requirement for first time travellers from South Africa to Nigeria.
(c) The Department of Home Affairs, in conjunction with other stakeholders, enhanced the security features of South African passports. We are in the process of improving the accuracy, and the integrity of our National Population Register (NPR).
NOTE: Switzerland imposed visa requirements for completely different reasons, and that is, as a consequence of that country moving into the Schengen Group of countries in 2008, whose policy on South Africa has, always, been towards visa requirement.
No comments:
Post a Comment