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Visa rules 'putting 1 million new jobs at risk'

Source: Fin24 - Carin Smith, 28/07/2015

Cape Town - Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba should be asked why he
is not taking heed of the private sector's concerns regarding the
decline in tourist numbers and the resulting outcry by the tourism
industry, Beverley Schäfer, DA Western Cape spokesperson on economic
opportunities, tourism and agriculture, said on Tuesday.
According to the latest Tourism Business Index of the Tourism Business
Council of SA business performance levels across the tourism value
chain have dropped from 99.9 points in the first quarter to 83.6
points in the second quarter. This is the lowest performance level
since the third quarter of 2011.
"These [visa] regulations can potentially destroy 22 000 jobs, split
families and prevent people from entering SA that could positively
contribute to our economy," she said.
Schäfer chaired a meeting of the Western Cape Provincial Government's
standing committee on economic opportunities, tourism and agriculture.
At the meeting the province's Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan
Winde answered questions by committee members regarding concerns
relating to South Africa's visa regulations.
"Today the standing committee heard of the negative impact these
onerous regulations have on the tourism industry, especially on the
Western Cape," said Schäfer.
"Once again Minister Gigaba has failed the people of SA and the
Western Cape. He has yet to respond to my report hand delivered to his
office or letters sent to him."
Schäfer said she wants Gigaba to indicate where the review is that
President Jacob Zuma promised in his State of the Nation Address and
where the inter-ministerial team is which Gigaba must lead to
investigate complaints raised about the new visa regulations.
She wants Gigaba to account to the national portfolio committee on
tourism "for the negative impact and consequences these regulations
have had on the tourism industry and the economy at large".
"The goal in the National Development Plan (NDP) is to create an addition

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