Visiting “swallows” should be warmly welcomed, not coldly kicked from South Africa’s borders

Dear international visitors,

As a proud South African, resident in the Western Cape, I feel a deep conflict. On the one hand I am filled with hope, pride and excitement following the abundance of good news – that keeps coming – based on the hard work of our tourism sector. Just this week Cape Town was named as the world’s second-best city, after New York City, to live in by TimeOut. We’ve always known that our city and province is a world-class destination and place to live, and now the secret is well and truly out.

And across the Western Cape, we are celebrating a record-breaking December tourism season, that brings with it the promise of job growth and economic revitalization.

We are a destination that is in demand. Every single tourist is important, and should be treated as such by our national government. Because, quite plainly, more tourists mean more jobs.

But I’m conflicted because I also feel a deep sense of frustration, anger and despair at the regular reports of an utterly broken visa regime, and unjustifiably long visa processing times that plague thousands of visitors who wish to spend time and forex in South Africa.

As a result, the reputational damage and economic costs for our country have now reached intolerable levels, costing jobs and compromising national and provincial economic growth.

I was utterly incensed to read reports of a circular issued on December 21, 2023, by the Acting DG: Department of Home Affairs, which has thrust the department's inefficiencies into the spotlight once again.

Of particular concern is a decision (in paragraph 2(d) of that circular) which mandates the departure of short-term visa holders by February 29, 2024, if their renewal applications remain unresolved by 23 February, just a few days prior. This perplexing statement raises serious questions about procedural fairness and administrative justice, especially for those global citizens who follow the sun (as so-called “swallows”) and base themselves on our sunny shores for our summer months. Our “swallows” - many of whom are retired - invest in homes, spend their forex in our regional and rural towns, and form an integral part of our tourism and community tapestry across the Western Cape in particular. We deeply value our “swallows” in this province, and we are shocked at the disregard shown toward them in this blundering circular.

It is senseless to impose abrupt restrictions on the people who travel far and choose South Africa over an extensive range of options, and who play an important role in economic growth and job creation.

One of the steps I’ve taken is to engage directly with Minister Motsoaledi to urge the Department of Home Affairs to reassess the terms outlined in this circular. This is because they appear irregular, procedurally unfair, and constitutionally questionable. Such an approach not only undermines the principles of our democratic governance but also exposes the department to even more potential litigation over visa bungles.

I have formally extended the support of the Western Cape government to expedite visa processing, allowing Home Affairs officials to focus their minds on making a decision, while helping to address and process the existing backlog.

This is a genuine offer of support to bolster the department's capacity to promptly apply minds to duly submitted and paid applications for visa renewals.?

The sad reality though is that the problems don’t end there.

Both the Red Tape Reduction Unit within the Western Cape Government, and Wesgro (the official trade, investment, and tourism promotion agency for the province) have been at the coalface dealing with the challenges in the visa system on behalf of desperate businesses and individuals.

Cases of long delays impacting investment projects in the Western Cape have been reported, with little to no feedback on visa rejections or delays. This not only hampers implementation plans but also discourages investment, impedes job creation, and tarnishes the reputation of our province and country as a welcoming business environment.

Both business and leisure tourism are adversely affected by these inefficiencies, particularly for travellers from countries that are not visa exempt.

South Africa's economic growth and job creation depend on a functional and efficient visa system. As public servants, it is our responsibility to do all we can to build a future where our immigration policies and practices support and enable the imperative to grow a thriving national economy. But right now, our opportunities to do so are at risk of fluttering away.

Warmly,

Mireille Wenger Western Cape Provincial Minister for Finance and Economic Development and Tourism