South Africa to Offer Visa-Free Travel Across Borders for 2010 World Cup
19/05/2008 by Charlotte Norman
The South African Government is considering opening its borders and offering visa-free travel for all Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) citizens across Southern Africa in time for the 2010 Football World Cup.
These plans to scrap existing visa control policies for neighbouring countries and members of the SADC are ones which have caused widespread controversy throughout the country.
If implemented all fourteen countries from the poorer SADC countries will be able to move across borders using a passport alone - subsequently waiving previous visa requirements.
Many people fear that due to South Africa's wealthy status amongst the countries, relaxing such laws may encourage an increase of economic migrants, therefore aggravating already fractionise relationships currently residing with particular borders.
The initiative has been given the deadline of the 2010 World Cup in order for the proposed plans to be implemented. It is thought that governmental talks will continue onwards with a conclusion expected to be met at the August South African Summit.
Mr Mfune Regional Representative of the International Organisation for Migration acknowledged that officials were discussing the technicalities and restrictions of the plans. In support of the plan he said "Most borders within SADC are already open…the potential benefits to trade through free business travel would be vast."
He also added that the plans could help combat people snuggling and human trafficking by means of "convincing people who would otherwise cross borders illegally to do so through legal channels."
According to FIFA (the governing body of the World Cup) statistics show that an estimated 150,000 visitors are expected to attend the tournament from Africa alone, this will of cause be made predominately more accessible should visa-free travel be granted.
Robbie Ragless a South African Immigration Worker for Global Visas disagrees with the proposed plans, he argues that "Currently, Zimbabwe (a member of SADC) has experienced a complete economic meltdown and over 5000 refugees a day are crossing the border in the hope for a better life in South Africa…you simply can't open your borders to allow hundreds of millions of economic migrant workers to come into your country and overcrowd the place."
With current South African immigration problems already flaring out of control in South Africa many feel that the plans will prove detrimental to the social balance of the country.
Recent reports of Xenophobia have in recent days reached a climax with Xenophobes carrying out acts of violence towards immigrants within specific areas of the country.
With these visa-free travel plans being announced merely days into the violence, fears are sure to be heightened with the prospect of an influx of foreigners through 'visa-free-access' across the borders.
Robbie Ragless adds "I don't think the government has thought this through properly. The repercussions of trying to satisfy a small short term problem provisionally may lead to a much bigger one in the long term."
The motivation of the World Cup is one which has attracted public interest; however fears of violence and economic migration are sure to heavily plague governmental discussions concerning visa-free access across borders - tipping the initial balance of benefits.
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