Critics of travel laws are circling the truth

Source: by Mayihlome Tshwete, - Business Day, 06/07/2015

RATHER than pinning responsibility for the new immigration regulations
solely on Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba when, in fact, they came
into effect on the day he took office on May 26 last year,
commentators should speak to the facts, myths and even blatant lies
surrounding the regulations.
The regulations make numerous progressive interventions, ranging from
the extension of student visa periods to incentives to attract
critical skills to our economy. The contentious issues have garnered
much excitement from some but are only a minor part of the regulations.
Given the types of questions we get from stakeholders, it appears that
many critics have not read the complete document.
Nonetheless, the contentious issues in the main are about "applying in
person" and regulations for "the travel of minors".
We have seen a number of figures and assertions accredited to these
components. We have seen what can only be called a skilful conflation
and misuse of occurrences to support opposition to the regulations.
Among them is that Air China has pulled out due to the new
regulations. We have since undertaken to speak to Air China about this
claim and it has not confirmed it or even made a statement to that effect.
South Africans will remember that South African Airways also stopped
flying this route but, given that this happened last year, our critics
were unable to conflate this with the visa regulations.
Another myth doing the rounds is that SA is the only country that asks
for birth certificates and consent when a child is not travelling with
both parents.
The biggest tourist attractions ask for similar documents and some
countries do not acknowledge our abridged birth certificates.
Critics retort that we need Europe more than Europe needs us, but they
ignore the fact that SA has not imposed visa requirements on many
European countries because of this concern. As it is, it is still
easier for Europeans to come to SA than for South Africans to go to
Europe.
SA has extended 10-year business visas to Brics (Brazil, Russia,
India, China and SA) countries and is considering extending that to
other Group of 20 countries.
That the government has taken a measured approach to its visa regime
is beyond question. While tourism is a critical industry, our concern
must also be to assess national risk and the vulnerability of children.
Given that crime is among the biggest deterrents for tourists, we
believe tourism will obtain a more sustainable benefit from measures
taken to minimise criminality.
That "criminals only use land borders" is a frightening and naively
elitist comprehension of the challenges we face. Criminals use both
land and air, and both legitimate and illegitimate methods of entry
into SA.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has proposed programmes
to minimise criminality in tourism while some South Africans barely
acknowledge the risks. Some even suggest that only a few hundred
children are trafficked so it`s not a real problem.
We cannot take pride in any tourism numbers that could have been
obtained through an abuse of the system, laws and regulations. We have
seen clear abuse of the system, ranging from human trafficking and
people who come into the country under false pretences to those who
stay after their visas have expired.
We have also had to deal with the excessive politicisation of this
matter, with some even resorting to opportunistic lies to ensure their
thoughts are published. We also have people who are eagerly pursuing
any downturn in tourism as a vindication for their views, regardless
of whether such a downturn is accurately analysed and reflected.
Discussions about compliance should continue. We invite continued
engagement that is also critical for the protection of children, who
are the inheritors of the future.
• Tshwete is the spokesman for the Home Affairs minister and the
Department of Home Affairs