South Africa Department of Home Affairs

by MTHULISI SIBANDA
PRETORIA – SOUTH Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has relaxed some international travel requirements for children going through the country’s ports of entry.

The revised conditions are with immediate effect.

David Hlabane, Department of Home Affairs media manager, disclosed the revisions.

He said the amendments reflected some of the cabinet approved reforms to the visa regime and were in line with economic recovery plan and stimulus announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September.

He said certain categories of child travellers were now exempted from presenting supporting documents at ports of entry but travellers were urged to carry these documents because they might be requested in certain instances.

“Children who are foreign nationals from countries where visas are required will no longer have to carry supporting documents,” Hlabane said.

He added: “However, children who are foreign nationals from countries where visas are not required might be asked to produce supporting documents upon entry.”

In the case of countries that endorsed the particulars of parents in
children’s passports, or other official identification documents, these
documents shall be sufficient to establish the identity of the parents of the travelling minor.

He also said South African children travelling abroad might be requested to produce supporting documents at ports of entry while children with passports detailing parents’ names would not be required to carry birth certificates when travelling.

In addition, a parental affidavit may be required.

– CAJ News