The South African Consulate in Lagos has dismissed reports that it has stopped issuing visas to Nigerians amid ongoing anti-migrant protests in South Africa.
The Consulate said visa applications by Nigerians remain ongoing, noting that Nigerians continue to travel to South Africa for tourism and other legitimate purposes.
Consul General of South Africa, Prof. Bobby Moroe, made the clarification on the sidelines of a round-table discussion organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
Moroe assured Nigerians that applicants who meet the requirements for visa issuance would not be denied.
“Visas continue to be issued in spite of the ongoing protests and Nigerians are still visiting the country for tourism and other legitimate purposes,” he said.
The consul general said Nigerians would not be discriminated against because of the current circumstances.
“We wish to make it clear again that Nigerians under these circumstances faced today will never be discriminated against,” Moroe said.
He added that a visa application would only be rejected if the applicant failed to meet the applicable requirements.
“No basis will justify why your visa is rejected except that you, for one reason or another may not have qualified with the requirements of the visa,” he said.
The clarification comes amid concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa following protests targeting migrants.
Moroe also announced the recent introduction of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), a digital system designed to simplify and speed up travel authorisation for prospective visitors.
According to the consul general, the system has reduced documentation requirements and replaced aspects of the traditional visa application process.
He said prospective travellers can apply through their mobile devices, making the process faster, safer and more convenient.
The development is expected to make travel authorisation more accessible for eligible Nigerian travellers visiting South Africa for tourism and other legitimate purposes.
The Consulate urged prospective travellers to comply with the applicable requirements when applying for entry clearance.
