Home Affairs announces new visa amendments in a bid to boost tourism

[ToxicBunny]

The 16 million odd you are referring to are not really tourists boosting the tourism industry or government coffers. If they were, the tourism industry would not have been in shambles. Nor would government have been placed in this position to 'relax' restrictions.

Unfortunately, I agree that the tourism industry is dead in South Africa. Relaxing the Visa requirements will not miraculously increase number of visitors or save the industry. There are many more factors that contributed to the decline in tourism and Visa restrictions were only a very small part of it.

What a load of drivel... Tourism is alive and well in this country...

 

[Visser]

What a load of drivel... Tourism is alive and well in this country...

Okay, sure... whatever.

 

[vigras rojara]

Clue: non-local

/runs

Hmmm, sounds a lot like the foreigner, same kind of "fiction as fact" tone. Just missing the #SA2018 or whatever it normally signs off with....

 

[Ockie]

.Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, Lebanon, the State of Palestine, Belarus, Georgia and Cuba.

Appart from uae and Qatar.....wow....what a blessing ..... Cause the people from those countries are so cash flush.

 

[Knyro]

I have issues parting with my green ID book, it was such a big deal getting one, it will feel like I am losing my baby.
I had grand plans for it, one being to have something written in the vuurwapen lisensie section.

The guy at home affairs must have forgotten to ask for mine or didn't care. I also conveniently "forgot" and didn't bring it up so I avoided handing it in. Now I have both.

 

[ForceFate]

Hmmm, sounds a lot like the foreigner, same kind of "fiction as fact" tone. Just missing the #SA2018 or whatever it normally signs off with....

I'd understand if it was based of facts and not the usual right wing waffle.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Okay, sure... whatever.

For reference.. Sa had 10.3m foreign tourists in 2017.. That is hardly a dead industry...

 

[neoprema]

Appart from uae and Qatar.....wow....what a blessing ..... Cause the people from those countries are so cash flush.

shame man! at least 20 people will be insulted by that statement in the coming year.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Appart from uae and Qatar.....wow....what a blessing ..... Cause the people from those countries are so cash flush.

Never underestimate the wealth of some people in the other countries.....

 

[ponder]

I have issues parting with my green ID book, it was such a big deal getting one, it will feel like I am losing my baby.

I must say they were well made, mine's 29 yrs old and still looks ok.

 

[modern10]

Okay, sure... whatever.

Have you even seen the amount of foreigners at our airports and tourist destinations. Went to Cape Town for the long weekend and encountered more foreigners than locals.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I must say they were well made, mine's 29 yrs old and still looks ok.

Yussie.. Since you got it when you were 16 at least that makes you an old Toppie now....

 

[ForceFate]

I must say they were well made, mine's 29 yrs old and still looks ok.

Mine is only 4 years old (blame the washing machine). I'll wait for a proclamation rendering it invalid before I replace mine(unless it suffers the same fate as 3 others)...

 

[AdrianH]

How is that a priority in this troubled country? Can't you survive a little longer with your green ID book like everybody else?

He said online, nothing is stopping him from writing off a day and going to a home affairs branch like the majority do all the time. I did and have been rocking the card for around a year.

I can't apply for an card ID, be it online or at home affairs itself. The systems don't cater for SA citizens born outside of country.

 

[genetic]

I can't apply for an card ID, be it online or at home affairs itself. The systems don't cater for SA citizens born outside of country.

My mother was born outside the country and got her ID card.

 

[AdrianH]

My mother was born outside the country and got her ID card.

Where was your mom born?

Please tell me how, I have tried several times, even have emails from Home Affairs telling me I am not allowed. I know a manager in a regional Home Affairs office that got me my SA passport, but even she told me the systems can't cater for naturalized citizens like myself.

I am not the only one

Mokgola confirmed that naturalised citizens are indeed not able to apply for the new ID card at present. “The issuance of Smart ID cards is currently limited to South African citizens born in the country. Our systems have not been configured to include any individuals outside of this sector of the population. The department is working towards a full configuration of the system and will make an announcement once that process has been concluded,” said Mokgola.

https://www.zoutnet.co.za/articles/...outh-africans-qualify-for-smart-id-card-a-yet

Naturalised citizens (not citizens by birth but have attained citizenship in South Africa) also don’t qualify to apply for new Smart ID card.

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/how-apply-your-smart-id-card

 

[grok]

For reference.. Sa had 10.3m foreign tourists in 2017.. That is hardly a dead industry...

Heard on the radio (Jacaranda) this morning that Africa attracts but 5% of international tourists, despite having a plethora of lovely touristy destinations such as the pyramids, plenty game parks & many, many natural wonders. Once again, Africa performs way under its potential, I wonder why?

Oh, and love how Gigaabs make it sound like he's doing something 'In a bid to boost tourism to the country', lol, as if he didn't suppress it with his restrictions that made no sense in the first place.

 

[Mortymoose]

In one breath you say you don't need the certificates, but you should carry them with you just in case...

This is a half measure.....

 

[Lupus]

Heard on the radio (Jacaranda) this morning that Africa attracts but 5% of international tourists, despite having a plethora of lovely touristy destinations such as the pyramids, plenty game parks & many, many natural wonders. Once again, Africa performs way under its potential, I wonder why?

Oh, and love how Gigaabs make it sound like he's doing something 'In a bid to boost tourism to the country', lol, as if he didn't suppress it with his restrictions that made no sense in the first place.

That's Africa for you, same as it is pretty mineral rich, Nigeria has oil and yet look where we all sit.

 

[surface]

It’s ‘absolute bollocks’ says Gigaba over claims that hated visa regulations were ‘personal’

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-09-26-its-absolute-bollocks-says-gigaba-over-claims-that-
hated-visa-regulations-were-personal/

He was forced to make the denial after journalist-turned-author Redi Tlhabi took to Twitter on Tuesday night to slate Gigaba‚ who had earlier in the day announced that the much-criticised visa regulations were being loosened.

"Minister when are we going to have the real conversation? When are you going to be honest with the nation and tell us why you were adamant that your brainless visa regulations for travelling with minors were personal? That we all had to toe the line because you had a domestic issue?‚" Tlhabi tweeted.

"Is it not true that you were livid when a cousin of your ex-wife travelled with your daughter Lerato‚ whilst your wife was in Cuba? Upon finding out‚ you laid charges of kidnapping... even though you knew your ex-wife's cousin very well & your daughter was quite happy with her?” she continued.