+27 (0)82 373 8415 info@sami.co.za Client Area login Assessment Form Visa Renewal Services


News Articles

Manas sets tongues a-twitter

Source: By Ayanda Mkhwanazi – Saturday Star, 26/09/2015


Johannesburg - Morning Live presenter Leanne Manas caused a storm in a
teacup on Twitter on Friday when she tweeted that Microsoft founder
Bill Gates and his daughter were prevented from entering the country
because the young girl didn`t have an unabridged birth
certificate.


While still on air Manas tweeted: "Bill Gates & his daughter landed at
Sabi Sabi with his daughter a week ago only to be turned away because
of no unabridged birth certificate. (sic)" This forced the country`s
top officials, including Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, into
action.


The new visa regulations, which require adults travelling with
children to have copies of the minors` unabridged birth certificates,
came into effect in June. A few hours after Manas tweeted, Gigaba
asked her to provide details about the incident. His spokesman
Mayihlome Tshwete also begged the presenter to disclose additional
information.


"I have respect for you but you are treating Home Affairs and the
viewers of Morning Live with total disregard."


Other social media users argued that Gates could have flouted the
country`s laws by not using OR Tambo International Airport, suggesting
that he had been given preferential treatment: "How come they landed
at Sabi Sabi and not official port of entry? Who does Bill Gates think
he is? The Guptas?" tweeted Maggs Naidu.


Another user echoed Naidu`s sentiments: "Why would anyone want to
overlook the country`s rules and regulations just to accommodate one
person?" said Mantombi Mngadi.


After a thorough investigation by Home Affairs, the department said
their electronic movement system showed that Gates hadn`t entered the
country in the last few days.


In a statement, Tshwete said Manas`s tweets were misleading and
untrue, and added that should Gates wish to visit the country, he`d be
expected to abide by the laws like any other visitor. Meanwhile, Rod
Wyndham, the managing director at Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, could
neither confirm nor deny the incident. He added that the new law was
frustrating for people in the hospitality industry. "It`s an ongoing
problem for us. It`s frustrating that people have to be turned away
from our country because of this law."


Tshwete has asked Manas to retract her statement and apologise for
propagating false information, but by Friday night Manas had yet to
respond. An insider at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told the
Saturday Star that it was unlikely that Gates would`ve been in South
Africa as he was expected to be in New York attending the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development Goals.
Saturday Star


Search

Search

Latest News

  •    This was revealed in the 2025 Easter border operations report, which saw border management authority officials, saps officers and home affairs workers intensify efforts to prevent illegal travel into the country over the holiday period.JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwean nationals have been identified as the leading individuals attempting to illegally gain entry into South Africa.... Read more...
  •    THE High Court has nullified the re-registration of a birth certificate for a child born out of wedlock, ordering the Registrar-General to strike it from the records.This ruling declared the birth certificate invalid, questioning the legality of attributing paternity to a deceased man decades after his death.The dispute arose from a contested inheritance involving the late Lazarus Mkudu’s estate.Teresiah Mkudu, the applicant, sought a declaratory order to invalidate Ruvimbo Manyonda’s birth certificate, issued nearly 20 years after Mkudu’s death.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
  •    Residents from 34 countries can now apply for a visa to South Africa online. There are now 34 countries that can apply for a visa to South Africa online, which National Treasury says will help attract more tourists and skills into the country.This was trumpeted in Wednesday`s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as being one of the key successes of Operation Vulindlela. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to assist in the acceleration of critical reforms needed to accelerate the economy.... Read more...
South Africa Immigration Company