South Africa Revokes Visa Exemption for Palestinian Passport Holders Amid Allegations of Systematic Abuse
The Department of Home Affairs has taken decisive action by revoking the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian ordinary passport holders, following disturbing revelations of alleged abuse linked to charter flights organised for Palestinian individuals seeking relocation from Gaza to South Africa.
This significant move by the Department of Home Affairs comes in response to two charter flights that recently arrived in South Africa, carrying Palestinian passport holders under the guise of short-stay visas. Minister Leon Schreiber highlighted that investigations indicated a pattern of attempts to relocate individuals from Gaza rather than for legitimate travel purposes.
Minister Schreiber underscored the government's commitment to safeguarding the integrity of visa regulations and protecting genuine travellers while thwarting malicious exploitation of the system. Investigations uncovered concerning reports of a Dubai-based broker soliciting bulk quotations for additional charter flights, suggesting a broader scheme aimed at relocating Palestinians to various parts of the world.
The Department of Home Affairs emphasised that the withdrawal of the visa exemption was a proactive measure to prevent further abuses of the system, ensuring that authentic travellers from Palestine can visit South Africa without falling victim to exploitation orchestrated by external actors.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's suspicions regarding the motives behind the recent charter flights were validated by subsequent investigations, pointing to a deliberate and ongoing abuse of the 90-day visa exemption intended for Palestinian ordinary passport holders.
The Department of Home Affairs revealed that the abuse extended beyond mere travel arrangements, as passengers were reportedly left destitute upon arrival in South Africa, necessitating intervention from civil society organisations to address their welfare needs.
Despite the visa exemption withdrawal, the Department assured that asylum applications from travellers who arrived on the charter flights would be processed accordingly, prioritising the protection and well-being of genuine Palestinian travellers while safeguarding against future attempts at exploitation.
Moving forward, the Department of Home Affairs remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding visa regulations, ensuring the legitimate entry of Palestinian travellers to South Africa while resolutely rejecting any further instances of abuse or manipulation of the system.
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