Cape Town — ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for his handling of the visa requirements for Nigerian citizens.
Earlier this week, the Presidency announced that progress is underway to modernise the visa application process for Nigerians to improve the efficiency and convenience of the visa application process.
“This is part of the visa reforms initiated by the South African Government to enable economic activities and boost tourism while protecting our national security. The modernisation of the visa application process does not compromise the integrity of the visa system,” Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said.
The Presidency wishes to clarify a misunderstanding that appears to have arisen from President @CyrilRamaphosa’s opening remarks at the SA-Nigeria Bi-National Commission yesterday (03 December 2024) about the simplified visa process for Nigerian nationals https://t.co/HLqKmEn6yw pic.twitter.com/B9KRydRcgn
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) December 4, 2024
In a video posted on X, ActionSA’s Mashaba was disappointed with Ramaphosa’s decision amid the current issues going on in South Africa regarding foreign-owned spaza shops.
“The whole day, South Africans could not believe the President relaxed Visa restrictions for Nigerians. At the same time, when the entire world is saying ‘No it must be difficult for Nigerians to come into our country,’ our president, despite the fact there is an outcry from South Africans, is saying ‘No it must be easy for you to come to South Africa,” Mashaba told ActionSA supporters.
He called out Ramaphosa for his address to the nation regarding the illegal spaza shops run by foreign nationals and said it was wrong for him to do so when so many children have died.
“Are you aware that, when he made this announcement, not a single municipality was given a background on how they must register these people? The 21 days is in a few days. Go and ask the municipality of Johannesburg, or anywhere in the country, they don’t know what to do because they were never warned, and no proclamation was issued by the president so that when you register, you know how to,” he concluded.
📹 MUST WATCH “South Africans could not believe it when the president said that he is relaxing visa restrictions for Nigerians.”
ActionSA President @HermanMashaba outlines how President @CyrilRamaphosa has failed the country by allowing less strict measures on visas for… pic.twitter.com/eOO9m3EF7n
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) December 5, 2024
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Picture: X/@ActionSA
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen