Bobby Moroe, the South African Consul-General to Nigeria, has explained that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr was denied a visa because she submitted an incorrect yellow fever certificate.
Moroe made this known in a recent interview, where he disclosed that the visa rejection did not happen recently, as some online reports suggested, but actually took place in February 2024.
Moroe explained that the rejection happened because the visa requirements were not met. He added that it had nothing to do with the singer’s personality or the fact that she is Nigerian.
He said the issue came up again after reports claimed that Starr and her team were denied visas to enter South Africa. This led the South African mission to meet with her team and explain what requirements needed to be met.
He said, “I do not see the relevance of that rejection to the development of today, except for using that rejection to sow division.
“One of the challenges was that they did not submit an appropriate yellow fever certificate. They submitted the yellow fever certificate of another country when they were supposed to submit the yellow fever certificate of their home country.
“Subsequently, the matter was resolved amicably and they were granted a one-year visa to go and perform in South Africa in 2024, and I think that was what they forgot to mention.”
Moroe said that all applicants are assessed according to immigration requirements, regardless of their status.
He explained that travellers who want to apply for visas must provide the necessary documents. This includes a yellow fever certificate from their home country to show they have been vaccinated before coming to South Africa.
He stated, “If you meet the requirement for a visa, whether you are a star or not, tall, short, black or white, if you qualify, you will get it. But if you don’t, regardless of who you are, the immigration section will uphold the immigration law of the country.
“Whether you are Ayra Starr or anyone, if you qualify, you will get it. The narrative that we have stopped issuing visas to Nigerians is false. We are not politicians; we don’t get into politics. Whether there are unrest or not, if you qualify for the visa, you will be given.”
Moroe also disclosed that visa applications from Nigerians had increased to between 60 and 80 monthly compared with previous years.
He added, “The visa applications have increased compared to the past. Before now, it used to be between 40 and 60 applications monthly, but now it has increased to between 60 and 80 applications monthly.”
