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SA 'stumped' by passport ban
20/04/2006 23:14 - (SA)
Cape Town - The department of home affairs had no answers on Thursday for people hoping to travel to the United Kingdom, given its moratorium on temporary passports issued by South Africa.
"People will be informed," said spokesperson Nkosana Sibuyi, but could not provide details of when and how this would be done.
"The department is working on the issue," he added.
Sibuyi said the department received confirmation from the British government on Wednesday that it would issue a public notice about the ban.
The department was alerted to the pending moratorium earlier this month.
The British government decided to "stop accepting" temporary South African passports, in some cases with immediate effect, according to a notice on the British high commission website.
It made a transitional arrangement allowing for temporary travel documents issued on or before April 19 to be accepted up to June 1.
Will need UK visa
"This will ensure that anyone who plans to visit the UK will be able to do so," read the notice.
"Those who hold a valid airline ticket purchased before May 10 will be allowed to travel before June 1.
"Anyone with a temporary passport who buys an airline ticket between May 11 and 30 can also travel to the UK before June 1, but will need to get a UK visa.
"From June 1, South African temporary passports will no longer be accepted for travel to the UK."
Sibuyi said he did not know the reasons for the decision, and denied reported concerns about the integrity of South Africa's passport-issuing system.
"That issue has never been discussed between our minister and the minister of that country. I am not sure it must be treated with credibility," Sibuyi said.
"I don't know what they (the British) relied on. People have their own intelligence, do their own work, do their own research.
"Each and every country has the prerogative to develop its own policy position ... and must conduct its own responsibilities in accordance with its own laws."
British high commission spokesperson Russ Dixon later confirmed the decision was based on concerns about "shortcomings with the passport-issuing process here (in South Africa)".
Worried about business links
These were problems that South Africa readily recognised and was working hard to rectify, he added.
"We hope to begin to accept South African temporary passports again in due course, once the system has been improved," said Dixon.
The Freedom Front Plus expressed concern that the moratorium would harm business ties.
"The department of home affairs must remedy its service delivery," it said.
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