Dirco urges journalists to carry correct travel documents

Source: mail & Guardian, 14/11/2018

Quintal and Mumo were involved with meeting several local
journalists and asking about their views before they were detained
in the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, for five hours.
According to Sisulu, Tanzanian authorities told her the
journalists were detained because they had entered the country on
visitors permits and not a working visa.
After their detention, Quintal and Mumo were released and later
received their passports from Tanzanian authorities.They
subsequently left Tanzania.
Tanzanian authorities have insisted the reason for their detention
was the result of their contravention of visa regulations by
working on visitors permits. There has been no mention of the work
the authorities believe the pair undertook while in the country.
In a statement following Quintal and Mumo’s release last week, CPJ
confirmed Quintal and Mumo had been meeting with journalist in
Tanzania to understand the challenges journalists there face.
“Angela Quintal and Muthoki Mumo travelled to Tanzania to
understand the challenges facing the Tanzanian press and to inform
the global public,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon wrote.
“It is deeply ironic that through their unjustified and abusive
detention of our colleagues, Tanzanian authorities have made their
work that much easier. It is now abundantly clear to anyone who
followed the latest developments that Tanzanian journalists work
in a climate of fear and intimidation.
We call on the government of Tanzania to allow journalists to work
freely and to allow those who defend their rights to access the
country without interference.”
Days before the journalist’s detention, Quintal had shared a story
pertaining to the disappearance of Tanzanian journalist, Azory
Gwanda on Twitter.
In the same article shared by Quintal, it was reported that 27
journalists had been mistreated by Tanzanian police since the
start of the year.
“We will always be there for you when you are in trouble, but we
would like it if you stuck to the rules and regulations of any
country that you visit,” Sisulu explained.
The department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco)
stipulates that if South Africans travelling abroad do not comply
with visa or permit requirements, they can be subjected to
criminal prosecution, imprisonment, deportation, or be
blacklisted.
Sisulu told journalists that Dirco is available to help stranded
journalists and travellers at anytime.
If South Africans find themselves in distress while travelling
abroad, they can call a 24-hour call centre on 012 351 1000 as
part of Dirco’s new initiative, the Travel Smart Campaign.
South African citizens are also invited to register for Rosa
(Registration of South Africans Abroad) where travellers list
their personal information, allowing Dirco to assist citizens who
experience an emergency while abroad.
Registration is voluntary and free of charge.