South African visa exemption pact

November 02 2009 by Liam Clifford

Nigeria to sign South African visa exemption pact

Nigeria and South Africa are about to sign a visa exemption pact for government officials, enabling them to visit South Africa without the need to make South African visa applications.

The move was announced at the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC), which is taking place to mark ten years of a strong relationship between the two African nations.

The vice president of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, will sign the visa waiver pact on a visit to Nigeria planned for 13 November.

Nigeria’s vice president Goodluck Jonathan made the announcement at a dinner being held at the South African Parliament. He added that the move was important to cement Nigeria’s and South Africa’s relationship and will help them to work together to improve the continent. Calls to both the Nigerian and the South African governments were made encouraging them to introduce more laws that help build on their relationship.

The move follows another relaxation of South African visa rules for Zimbabweans who wish to move to South Africa for 90 days or less to find work. This visa waiver scheme was introduced in August to separate the economic migrants who want to work in South Africa from the asylum seekers fleeing Zimbabwe.

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