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Home Affairs says immigration policy no problem

Source: News24, 27/12/2015

Durban – The Department of Home Affairs has said reports of UK-based
travellers experiencing problems entering South Africa because of
immigration regulations were "baseless and inaccurate".

In a statement the department said negative reports had emerged due to
distortion of facts.

"We wish to categorically state that these reports are baseless and
inaccurate, stemming largely from exaggeration and distortion of
facts.

The same goes for claims regarding families coming
to our country.

"More travellers from the UK are coming to our shores. Our data
systems for recording arrivals and departures at ports of entry show a
notable increase of 3% for UK travellers to SA between 01 November and
23 December 2015.

"A total of 82 772 UK travellers had arrived in this period, in 2015,
compared to 79 998 for the same period in 2014. Also for children, we
experienced an increase in the number of arrivals for the 01 November
2015 to 23 December 2015 period, with 8 745 arrivals recorded,
compared to 8 508 in 01 November 2014 to 23 December 2014 – an
increase of 3%."

The department added that it was "consistent in discussions" of the
2014 immigration regulations.

"We have indicated that [we] welcome tourists and others to our
country as tourism stimulates economic activity, assisting SA in
realizing the aims of the National Development Plan.

"Home Affairs wants what is best for the country as can be seen in
concessions announced by Cabinet in October 2015 that had been made to
attract critical skills and foreign students. But we cannot be
reckless in any policy formulation and implementation, thus the need
consciously to balance economic goals with security interests."

It added that officials "continue to do the best that they can" during
the festive period.

"Improving traveller processing at ports of entry for enhanced client
satisfaction is among the apex priorities of the department."

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