OUR HUMBLE SERVANTS
People who are sceptical about big government sometimes observe that society can afford lazy and ineffective public servants because, on the whole, they do little harm - apart from consuming taxpayers' money. The real danger comes from zealous officials who are intent on the diligent implementation of intrusive and illogical government regulations.
Such officials have the ability to disrupt the lives of citizens and to cause havoc in the affairs of businesses. The officials concerned invariably believe that they are working in the public interest but seldom stop to consult those whose lives and businesses they affect or to consider the unintended consequences of their actions.
So it is with our Minister of Homes Affairs, Mr Malusi Gigaba, and his current drive to reform our visa system. He wants to ensure that South Africa has the most up-to-date and effective system available to control the entry of foreigners into our country.
It is important to note that the new system will apply only to citizens of countries that require visas - and will thus not affect visa-exempt travellers from the 77 countries - including most of the countries in Europe, North America, Australasia and southern Africa - from which the vast majority of our visitors come.
Notable exceptions are China, India, Russia, (all BRICS partners!), and a number of North African, Middle-Eastern, south Asian and African states. Applicants from these countries will have to apply in person for visas and for biometric testing at South African missions overseas - regardless of the fact that they might have to travel thousands of kilometres to do so.