South Africa set for Christmas tourist influx, says Gigaba

Source: The Citizen, 09/12/2016

Home Affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba greeting Immigration officials
during a walk about of the immigration section of OR Tambo
International Airport before briefing media about the festive season
plans for the Immigration department of Home Affairs, 8 December
2016.Picture: Neil McCartney


The Department of Home Affairs is preparing for the onslaught of
overcrowded ports of entry as millions of travellers are expected to
flock to South Africa this festive season.


Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Thursday announced a new
operating model for the festive season period, complete with new
rules, 255 extra staff members for major airports and border
gates.


Addressing media at the OR Tambo International Airport, Gigaba said
that the department’s border management coordinating committee was
operating for the first time at South Africa’s points of entry after a
2014 Cabinet decision to take responsibility for the coordination of
border management mandates.


“We are beginning to place home affairs at the centre of management,
not only of the borderline but our ports of entry, ensuring that it
plays its role.”


The department will see new rules applying at international arrivals
for South African and first time foreign travellers, with the latter
now expected to use separate entrances at the terminals for the
purpose of having a full set of finger prints taken before being
allowed through.


There will now be 92 additional staff members at the airport for the
duration of the festive season to deal with the expected traveller
influx.


But Gigaba said that long-term plans were in the pipeline to overhaul
South Africa’s ports of entry as soon as next year.


South Africa’s six major commercial land ports of entry are set to be
the focus of this overhaul.


“We pay particular attention to those because in terms of traveller
volumes they almost match OR Tambo,” said Gigaba.


“The difference at Beitbridge is that you also have vehicles �" light
and heavy �" and they stretch for kilometres.


“Next year we hope to finalise a plan to completely overhaul the
infrastructure,” said Gigaba.