Home Affairs pours cold water on immigration regulations reports

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"The Department of Home Affairs has noted reports about UK-based travellers to South Africa experiencing serious problems as a result of our immigration regulations. 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," said the department.

In a statement on Sunday, 27 December, the department said more travellers from the UK are coming to South Africa.

"Our data systems for recording arrivals and departures at ports of entry show a notable increase of 3% for UK travellers to South Africa between 1 November and 23 December 2015," said the department.

A total of 82,772 UK travellers had arrived in this period in 2015, compared to 79,998 for the same period in 2014.

Regarding children, South Africa experienced an increase in the number of arrivals from 1 November 2015 to 23 December 2015 period, with 8,745 arrivals recorded compared to 8,508 in 1 November 2014 to 23 December 2014. This was an increase of 3%.

"The department has always been consistent in discussions of the 2014 immigration regulations, indicating that welcome tourists and others to our country as tourism stimulates economic activity, assisting SA in realising 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," said the department.