THE Department of Home
Affairs has set its sights on
visa-free travel to Europe for all
South African passport holders
but travel experts believe this
is a completely unrealistic
goal.
A meeting between Minister
of Home Affairs, Malusi
Gigaba, and EU Ambassador,
Marcus Cornaro, to discuss
immigration-related issues
between SA and the EU raised
speculation about whether
visa concessions may soon be
introduced for South Africans
headed to Europe.
Home Affairs has made
it clear to the EU that the
dropping of visa requirements
for all South African
travellers is its ultimate goal.
Spokesperson for the DHA,
Mayihlome Tshwete, says
the EU needs to examine the
so-called threat SA poses to
Europe. “Most SA travellers
are tourists and not economic
migrants.” He says the DHA
wants to look at issues that
concern the EU and address
them.
“Once we do this, we could
see visa requirements dropped
within two years.”
However, Annemarie Lexow,
sales and marketing manager
of Travel Vision, says the
proposed concessions are
optimistic and opportunistic
and that there’s no reason to
expect the rest of the world to
open its doors to Africa. “We
would need to get our own
house in order first.”
Chris van Staden, director
of Azure Travel, agrees, saying
while it would be great, it’s not
going to happen.
In terms of shorter term
concessions, the DHA aims to
simplify the process and lower
the cost of long-term multipleentry
visas for business
travellers, students, academics
and other groups of frequent
travellers to the EU.
Susan Thesen, gm of British
T.I.P.S, says some countries
within the EU are quite strict
when it comes to granting
multiple-entry visas and an
initiative to streamline the
entire process would make it
easier for frequent travellers.
However, TNW spoke to a
visa specialist who says the
EU is realistic about visas
for SA travellers. “I don’t
think long-term multiple-entry
visas should be opened up to
everybody. This could put EU
countries at risk. Travellers
who are more stable and likely
to return are granted longer
visas.”
Mayihlome says the EU
ambassador expects to have
more direction on how and
when concessions for multipleentry
visas will be addressed
next year. He says other
concessions, such as for
diplomats and officials who no
longer require visas for the EU,
will be addressed sooner
