“
I
T’S all systems go for the
implementation on June 1
of the new immigration
regulations,” says Mmatšatši
Ramawela, ceo of the Tourism
Business Council of SA.
Despite ongoing engagement,
it is unlikely that the
Department of Home Affairs
will abandon the requirement
for unabridged birth
certificates and travel agents
are advised to inform their
customers of the implications
of travelling without the correct
documentation.
“Despite a recent meeting
between the deputy minister of
Home Affairs, Fatima Chohan,
and travel and tourism
associations in South Africa
represented by umbrella body,
the TBCSA, all indications are
that the 12-month moratorium
on the implementation of
the impending immigration
regulations will not be
passed,” Asata said.
Mmatšatši says the TBCSA
has engaged with the DHA
on three occasions since the
announcement of the new
immigration regulations in
2014. However, the feedback
from all meetings was that the
DHA would press ahead with
the implementation of the new
regulation from June 1.
To make sure the
implementation happens
smoothly, the DHA is
developing Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs), which
will be used by immigration
officials at ports of entry.
Mmatšatši says the deputy
minister has committed to
sharing the SOP documents
with the TBCSA for input before
finalising them. The finer
details of the SOPs will assist
the TBCSA to address some
of the miscommunication in
the market regarding the new
regulations, says Mmatšatši.
“We will be making follow-ups
in this regard, to at least get
the SOPs to get further clarity
on the requirements of the
new regulations to disseminate
proper information to our
members.”
Travel agents should be
prepared for June 1, says Otto
de Vries, ceo of Asata. He
says they should warn affected
clients not to delay applying for
unabridged birth certificates
as the time frame for obtaining
the birth certificate varies
greatly, from a few weeks to
several months. “We have
even heard of extreme cases
taking over a year,” he says.
Meanwhile, trade
associations have not given
up lobbying the Department
of Home Affairs. “Barsa will
never throw in the towel and
will continue to act in the
best interests, not only of its
members, but also tourists
visiting South Africa,” says ceo,
June Crawford.
“We are truly doing all we can
to make representations and
have already engaged various
parties within government,
such as the Presidency, the
DHA and the Department of
Tourism,” says Mmatšatši. She
says the TBCSA will resume
talks within the Immigration
Task Team, which was set up
by the Minister of Home Affairs
late last year. “There might not
be hope that the regulations
might be abandoned but we
believe that there is hope
for us and other business
formations to lobby for the
amendment of the regulations
and, most importantly, to
influence how the regulations
are implemented.”
The TBCSA has
commissioned a second
impact assessment study
by Grant Thornton on the
impact of the new immigration
regulations. The report will
be more detailed compared
with the first one, which was
commissioned late last year,
Mmatšatši says. “The second
report has more ‘meat’ and
we hope that it will strengthen
our voice on the new
regulations.”
