SA Migration International

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South Africa: Home Affairs On Compliance With Child Travel Requirements

Source: Home Affairs, 05/08/2015

The Department of Home Affairs is satisfied that residents and foreign
nationals are complying with new child travel requirements that took
effect on 1 June 2015, largely to promote enforcement of the
Children's Act and Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act.
Perceptions that new requirements are impossible or impractical to
enforce hold no water. People are complying in spite of misinformation
and the 'talking-down' of South Africa that has been happening.
Observing measures for protecting children helps in ensuring minors
receive consent of parents or guardians before travelling, in
accordance with national legislation and international obligations for
combatting abduction and trafficking in persons.
Although a multi-year comparison aids analysis of movement, and winter
school holidays may have an impact on volumes, we had looked at June
and July 2015 since this is when child travel requirements kicked-in.
Data on non-compliance with travel requirements is for those who
reported to a port of entry, and does not include persons off-loaded
by airlines.
According to DHA data systems for recording arrivals and departures at
ports of entry, for June 2015, 132 353 children were processed, both
arrivals and departures. Of these, 1 878 were recorded as having not
met requirements, placing compliance levels at 98%. June Arrival of
foreign children was around 57 436, with departures at 74,917.
July 2015 volume of minors' movements was 216 259, with 2 052 not
satisfying requirements, placing compliance well over 99%, showing
patriotic citizens and law-abiding foreign nationals understand why
it's important to protect the most vulnerable among us - the children.
July arrivals for foreign children were 128 839, with their departures
at 87 420.
The department has further noted that both Europe and the Americas
showed slight increases for July (year on year) after showing slight
declines for June (year on year). For instance, for Europe, 24 742
arrivals and departures (children) were recorded for July 2014, and 26
763 children for July 2015, showing a slight increase of 2 021. For
North and South America there is an increase from 16 641 of July 2014
to 17 144 for 2015.
We call for more compliance and respect for the law. Where there are
problems, we are ready to step in and remedy the situation to the best
of our ability, and within the confines of what is permissible in law.
Nothing beats the feeling of getting into a caring environment that's
not only safe, but feeling safe, with all checks in place for a
fulfilling, memorable, sojourn.
Home Affairs officials at various ports of entry are doing their best
for good client experience as our citizens and visitors adjust to the
changes. For this, the department is grateful and urges officials to
keep up the good work.
The department has noted concerns raised with regard to experiences of
some travellers and is hard at work improving traveller processing.
With the support of all stakeholders, it is possible to resolve any
unintended consequences. There is no evidence conclusively to say
since new immigration regulations took effect there's been a sharp
decline in numbers of foreign travellers arriving in SA and that jobs
had been lost. When it released the 2014 Tourism report, on 4 August
2015, Statistics South Africa stated that the salient characteristics
of the 2014 tourists did not differ much from observations from
previous years. It said in recent years, there has been a general
slow-down in the rate of growth of tourists arriving in the country.
The Department of Home Affairs has reiterated its belief that with
collaborative efforts with tourism and other stakeholders much can be
achieved in the interest of all concerned. The new regulations
specific to minors, are for the protection of children and not in
opposition to tourism. A birth certificate is important for
identification, serves as proof of relationship of child to parents,
and aids in verifying consent to travel.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba will be speaking to the media
about proposals to ensure child safety while creating an enabling
environment for both tourism and national interest.
South Africa's regulations are not onerous, but rational. They are
applied similarly in some countries, including guidelines from the US,
UK, Australia, Canada and Schengen countries.
Department of Home Affairs

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