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New Zealand passport holders currently living/working in Angola have travelled to South Africa on several occasions. Previously they did not require visas for South Africa but from January 16, 2017 this changed. It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure all visas are in place prior to arrival, but since the clients had been to South Africa not so long ago, they did not check. The operator involved clearly stipulates that is it the responsibility of the traveller to ensure all travel documents and visas are in place prior to arrival. This trip was planned 48 hours prior to arrival for business reasons, with two leisure tour days added.
On arrival in Johannesburg on Saturday, April 22, the passenger was not aware that the visa situation had changed for entry to South Africa and that a visa was now required to be obtained prior to arrival. The clients arrived in South Africa and at OR Tambo were denied entry because they did not have a visa.
As soon as they were denied entry, their passports were taken and they were locked up overnight as they could only get a return flight to Luanda the following morning. The only documentation they were shown indicated that it was the responsibility of the airline to return them to Luanda.
The conditions under which they were confined at OR Tambo International on the night of April 22 were appalling. They were locked behind bars and not provided with any food or water. Airport staff treated them like criminals. Although the airline was advised of the situation, they made no contact with the passengers and took no responsibility for ensuring their wellbeing. The area where they had to sleep looked like a child’s play area with bunk beds. The only thing they were given was a single blanket each. It had been a long time since either mattress or pillow were cleaned. The bathroom and shower were clean and serviceable, apart from the lack of a toilet seat. No soap, towels, or toothbrushes etc. were provided. When the door to the room they were being detained in closed, it locked and could not be opened from the inside – they had to use the intercom to get the people at the desk to remotely open the door.
After multiple requests for food and water, they were escorted down to the departure area where they were able to purchase something to eat and drink and return with the food to the cells. They were threatened that their phones would be impounded. Some other people in the lock-up area actually had their phones taken and locked up and were not allowed out to get food and drink.
I ask, are people not entitled to any food or water?
No explanations were given other than that they had to contact the airline and it was their responsibility. They did not see an airline representative until they were escorted to the aircraft on Sunday morning.
Staff attitudes were that of jailer and criminal and no empathy was shown at any stage. Their passports were only given back on their arrival in Angola.
This was an innocent mistake that the client had made regarding their entry to South Africa. They had enjoyed travel in South Africa with their family on many occasions and had a wonderful impression of the country. Since this incident they NEVER want to return. The appalling way they were treated has tarnished their reputation of South Africa. Is this the way our tourists are treated? We understand that there are some who are trying to enter illegally and for criminal reasons, but there are sadly situations where innocent mistakes are made. Why could the clients not be allowed to stay in the transit hotel at the airport – take their passport until they depart again, they cannot go anywhere anyway, but WHY treat them like this?
This client works for an exceptionally large international company and since this incident after their arrival back to Luanda, we had several provisional booking cancellations from their colleagues.
They were all for travel in Cape Town and Kruger Park lodges and the bookings we are sure were cancelled due to this client’s awful experience. We cannot blame him for the negative impression he has of South Africa, thanks to immigration at OR Tambo.
Is this the way people are treated at OR Tambo if there is a visa issue? Should each case not be investigated, discussed and handled appropriately based on the situation? It was totally unfair and uncalled for. Each case should be handled based on the circumstances and not just assumed that people are trying to enter South Africa illegally.
Sоurсе: tourismupdate.co.za