Pretoria — Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor says her department is in talks with United Kingdom authorities in a bid to lift visa requirements for South African passport holders.

Briefing journalists in Pretoria on Thursday, 23 May 2013, Pandor said the discussions follow government’s consistent calls to British authorities to change their passport regime, which requires all South African passport holders – including those who hold diplomatic and official documents – to apply for a visa when travelling to Great Britain.

This follows public outcry over the past few months over why South Africans should apply for a visa to travel to the UK, while British tourists are not, according to current laws, required to apply for a visa.

Other media reports pointed to concerns that should Home Affairs impose similar requirements, this would affect the country’s tourism industry.

“While we respect the right of the British to manage immigration in a manner they may deem fit, we also believe the international practice of reciprocity should apply as a principle.

“We have undertaken to continue the current discussions between our two governments and to give officials an opportunity to find a speedy resolution of the matter.

“Based on the outcomes of these discussions, the government will make a final decision based on principled international best practice,” Pandor said.

In March 2008, British authorities imposed visa requirements to South Africans travelling to the UK after their tests led to security concerns that some South African passports could be fraudulent.

While this only affected ordinary passport holders, British officials later extended the visa requirements to holders of diplomatic and official passports.

Pandor said the concerns raised had since been resolved after the SA government has since enhanced the security and integrity of the country’s travel documents.

“Since then we have been involved in discussions with our British counterparts to find an amicable solution to the matter.

“In various discussions with our colleagues, we have consistently called for a review of the current regime and reciprocal treatment of holders of official and diplomatic passports.”
http://flynaija.org/south-africa-in-talks-with-uk-to-lift-visa-requirements-for-south-african-passport-holders/