Heads-up: New SA Immigration rules for kids
May 22, 2015, 3:50 pm
#91
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DHA grants reprieve for SADC direct-transit pax
"South Africa’s neighbouring countries have breathed a “cautious” sigh of relief as the Department of Home Affairs has revealed that no supporting documents – including an unabridged birth certificate – will be needed for travellers under 18, who are in direct international transit, passing through SA’s international airports.
David Frost, Satsa CEO, says the new regulations will wipe out 20 years of investment efforts in the tourism industry. The top five European markets and the US market contribute to about 45% of arrivals. A 10% drop from those markets, which could be foreseen as a result of the new regulations, would have a huge impact, he says.
Despite numerous initiatives behind the scenes from the tourism industry, the Minister of Home Affairs has been impervious to any dialogue, Frost says. The arguments presented by the DHA are built on dogma and don’t take into consideration best practice, he says. “In any functioning democracy, this is a travesty.” "
Source
Johan
David Frost, Satsa CEO, says the new regulations will wipe out 20 years of investment efforts in the tourism industry. The top five European markets and the US market contribute to about 45% of arrivals. A 10% drop from those markets, which could be foreseen as a result of the new regulations, would have a huge impact, he says.
Despite numerous initiatives behind the scenes from the tourism industry, the Minister of Home Affairs has been impervious to any dialogue, Frost says. The arguments presented by the DHA are built on dogma and don’t take into consideration best practice, he says. “In any functioning democracy, this is a travesty.” "
Source
Johan
May 25, 2015, 2:03 pm
#92
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SATSA calls for 11th hour stay on SA’s new visa rules for children
"South African Tourism Services Association CEO, David Frost says Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba’s refusal to re-look at the new unabridged birth certificate requirement for children travelling in South Africa, set to come into effect on 1 June 2015, is going to “cost the country a significant amount of tourist arrivals”.
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom confirmed in parliament recently that there had been negative growth over the past six months from countries affected by the regulations.
In an earlier report in response to calls for the unabridged birth certificate requirements to be revised, Gigaba said the department of home affairs would not go back on its decision and that “South Africa should never relent in protecting children”"
Source
I figure Mr. Gigaba should start by protecting children already within SA's borders. He will have his work cut out for him, that's for sure.
Johan
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom confirmed in parliament recently that there had been negative growth over the past six months from countries affected by the regulations.
In an earlier report in response to calls for the unabridged birth certificate requirements to be revised, Gigaba said the department of home affairs would not go back on its decision and that “South Africa should never relent in protecting children”"
Source
I figure Mr. Gigaba should start by protecting children already within SA's borders. He will have his work cut out for him, that's for sure.
Johan
May 26, 2015, 2:49 pm
#93
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Home affairs clarifies new travel regulations for children
"Children who applied for unabridged birth certificates before June 1 would still be allowed to travel if they didn't receive their documents in time, Home Affairs Director-General Mkuseli Apleni told MPs on Tuesday morning.
Apleni said minors who left the country before June 1, but returned after June 1, would not be required to travel with the unabridged birth certificate.
Statistics released by the department show that 2 735 982 children travelled in and out of South Africa last year. This included 940 626 South Africans and 1 795 356 foreigners."
Source
Johan
Apleni said minors who left the country before June 1, but returned after June 1, would not be required to travel with the unabridged birth certificate.
Statistics released by the department show that 2 735 982 children travelled in and out of South Africa last year. This included 940 626 South Africans and 1 795 356 foreigners."
Source
Johan
May 27, 2015, 1:49 pm
#94
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,731
They must be kidding, right? It doesn't get any stupider than this!
http://traveller24.news24.com/Travel...r-May-20150526
http://traveller24.news24.com/Travel...r-May-20150526
There is no such thing as an unabridged birth certificate in our country, what must we do?
In the case of countries that do not issue unabridged birth certificates, a letter to this effect issued by the competent authority of the foreign country should be produced.
In the case of countries that do not issue unabridged birth certificates, a letter to this effect issued by the competent authority of the foreign country should be produced.
May 28, 2015, 6:57 am
#95
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,230
I land into JNB at 09:30 on 1 June - should I try to pick an immigration queue with no kids in it?? 
Will report back on the chaos...
Will report back on the chaos...
Last edited by Stewie Mac; May 28, 2015 at 7:06 am Reason: forgot smiley - it was a joke!
May 28, 2015, 7:04 am
#96
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
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Which would be a pity, granted we were almost first off the BA57 last week but there was still zero queue for immigration, a welcome change from the common state of affairs at Heathrow.
May 29, 2015, 9:09 am
#98
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LT Plt, Mets fan
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May 29, 2015, 12:43 pm
#99
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Posts: 14,352
Local travel industry expecting chaos'
"The Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA), along with its industry counterparts at the Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and Board of Airline Representatives South Africa (BARSA), have voiced their concerns about the negative impact the new visa rules will have on the industry as a whole.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ASATA CEO Otto de Vries warned that they are expecting chaos from 1 June, when the unabridged birth certificate rule kicks in."
Source
Johan
In a statement released on Wednesday, ASATA CEO Otto de Vries warned that they are expecting chaos from 1 June, when the unabridged birth certificate rule kicks in."
Source
Johan
May 29, 2015, 1:27 pm
#100
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,077
You know, I'm only just thinking about this now. Has anyone such as the travel agents association thought about going to Court to stop this. It seems you could more than gin up a claim that these restrictions have the potential to harm a parent or child's right of free movement. Constitution Bill of Rights, Section 21: freedom of movement, including the right to leave South Africa, the right of citizens to a passport and the right to enter South Africa. Get an order halting the regulations.
May 30, 2015, 2:12 am
#101
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,655
They must be kidding, right? It doesn't get any stupider than this!
http://traveller24.news24.com/Travel...r-May-20150526
http://traveller24.news24.com/Travel...r-May-20150526
May 30, 2015, 3:20 am
#102
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Posts: 14,352
"The Telegraph then went on to poll its readers asking:
“Will the new rules put you off taking your child to South Africa?"
The results came back with an alarming 61% opting for 'yes', with the remaining 39% opting for "No, it's inconvenient but I will visit"."
Source
This is of course the kind of poll that should be taken with more than a few pinches of salt, but still.
Johan
“Will the new rules put you off taking your child to South Africa?"
The results came back with an alarming 61% opting for 'yes', with the remaining 39% opting for "No, it's inconvenient but I will visit"."
Source
This is of course the kind of poll that should be taken with more than a few pinches of salt, but still.
Johan
Jun 1, 2015, 4:02 am
#103
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,230
bad, but just 'usual' bad
Landed on SA237, the last of the European heavies in, and when we got to the immigration hall the queue for non-visa foreigners was back through the entire sheep pen and into the hall. Moved quite quickly however, and we were through in about 40 minutes, so not great but no worse than usual.
Jun 1, 2015, 2:00 pm
#104
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Home Affairs statements at odds with own regulations
"Friday’s official statement by the Director General of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apleni, is contrary to the department’s regulations it gazetted on 22 May last year.
The statement that appeared on the Home Affairs website does not conform with the regulations or the latest version of the Advisory with Standard Operating Procedures they issued on 26 May. It is completely ambiguous, Professor Bronstein told Tourism Update.
In his statement Apleni said: "Where both parents are travelling with valid passports and visas the unabridged birth certificate is not a requirement since these additional documents would have been provided when applications were made for passports and visas.”"
Source
This is getting pretty bizarre.
Johan
The statement that appeared on the Home Affairs website does not conform with the regulations or the latest version of the Advisory with Standard Operating Procedures they issued on 26 May. It is completely ambiguous, Professor Bronstein told Tourism Update.
In his statement Apleni said: "Where both parents are travelling with valid passports and visas the unabridged birth certificate is not a requirement since these additional documents would have been provided when applications were made for passports and visas.”"
Source
This is getting pretty bizarre.
Johan
Jun 1, 2015, 2:07 pm
#105
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Well, as of today the SAPS will no doubt be apprehending child traffickers by the bushel every single day, now that these fantastic new rules have come into force.
I await the reports of arrests with bated breath.
Johan
Last edited by johan rebel; Jun 2, 2015 at 10:58 am Reason: Aparently can't even spell my own name anymore