Home Affairs on compliance with child travel requirements

5 August 2015

The Department of Home Affairs is satisfied that residents and foreign nationals are complying with new child travel requirements that took effect on 1 June 2015, largely to promote enforcement of the Children’s Act and Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act.

Perceptions that new requirements are impossible or impractical to enforce hold no water. People are complying in spite of misinformation and the ‘talking-down’ of South Africa that has been happening. Observing measures for protecting children helps in ensuring minors receive consent of parents or guardians before travelling, in accordance with national legislation and international obligations for combatting abduction and trafficking in persons.

Although a multi-year comparison aids analysis of movement, and winter school holidays may have an impact on volumes, we had looked at June and July 2015 since this is when child travel requirements kicked-in. Data on non-compliance with travel requirements is for those who reported to a port of entry, and does not include persons off-loaded by airlines.

According to DHA data systems for recording arrivals and departures at ports of entry, for June 2015, 132 353 children were processed, both arrivals and departures. Of these, 1 878 were recorded as having not met requirements, placing compliance levels at 98%. June Arrival of foreign children was around 57 436, with departures at 74,917.

July 2015 volume of minors’ movements was 216 259, with 2 052 not satisfying requirements, placing compliance well over 99%, showing patriotic citizens and law-abiding foreign nationals understand why it’s important to protect the most vulnerable among us – the children. July arrivals for foreign children were 128 839, with their departures at 87 420.

The department has further noted that both Europe and the Americas showed slight increases for July (year on year) after showing slight declines for June (year on year). For instance, for Europe, 24 742 arrivals and departures (children) were recorded for July 2014, and 26 763 children for July 2015, showing a slight increase of 2 021. For North and South America there is an increase from 16 641 of July 2014 to 17 144 for 2015.

We call for more compliance and respect for the law. Where there are problems, we are ready to step in and remedy the situation to the best of our ability, and within the confines of what is permissible in law. Nothing beats the feeling of getting into a caring environment that’s not only safe, but feeling safe, with all checks in place for a fulfilling, memorable, sojourn. Home Affairs officials at various ports of entry are doing their best for good client experience as our citizens and visitors adjust to the changes. For this, the department is grateful and urges officials to keep up the good work.

The department has noted concerns raised with regard to experiences of some travellers and is hard at work improving traveller processing. With the support of all stakeholders, it is possible to resolve any unintended consequences. There is no evidence conclusively to say since new immigration regulations took effect there’s been a sharp decline in numbers of foreign travellers arriving in SA and that jobs had been lost.

When it released the 2014 Tourism report, on 4 August 2015, Statistics South Africa stated that the salient characteristics of the 2014 tourists did not differ much from observations from previous years. It said in recent years, there has been a general slow-down in the rate of growth of tourists arriving in the country.

The Department of Home Affairs has reiterated its belief that with collaborative efforts with tourism and other stakeholders much can be achieved in the interest of all concerned. The new regulations specific to minors, are for the protection of children and not in opposition to tourism. A birth certificate is important for identification, serves as proof of relationship of child to parents, and aids in verifying consent to travel.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba will be speaking to the media about proposals to ensure child safety while creating an enabling environment for both tourism and national interest.

South Africa’s regulations are not onerous, but rational. They are applied similarly in some countries, including guidelines from the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Schengen countries.

Statement issued by Mayihlome Tshwete, Department of Home Affairs, August 5 2015