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South African embassy changes visa system
Mr Mpho Minele, a secretary at the South Africa High Commission in Uganda, addresses journalists in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA
Kampala- Following numerous complaints, including mistreatment, the South African High Commission in Uganda announced yesterday that it had changed its visa application process.
“In an effort to improve our service to Ugandans and other nationals residing in Uganda who wish to travel to South Africa, a South African Visa Facilitation Service (VSF Global) will start operating in Kampala from Tuesday, June 2, 2015,” Prof Lekoa Solly Mollo, the South African High Commissioner, told journalists in Kampala.
Prof Mollo said the new system will improve efficiency with the number of staff working on the application doubling and working hours extended.
“Applicants will no longer have to wait in long queues to submit their applications. Staff at the South African High Commission will instead be able to focus on processing applications expeditiously.”
With the new measure, Ugandans carrying normal passports will cease submitting their visa applications to the South African High Commission with effect from May 27.
“All Ugandans carrying normal passports should start submitting their visa applications at the VFS Global Centre from June 2. The South African High Commission will process these final applications and no application can be submitted until the VSF Global Centre starts receiving applications.”
However, diplomatic passport holders on official duty will continue to submit their applications to the SA High Commission.
He added that consultations were still ongoing and the new costs would be made known in due course.
Mr Jiten Vyas, VFS’s Global chief operating officer – Africa, said they will stop at ensuring a smooth application process.
“Our role is facilitate and not to adjudicate. The role of decision making on who gets the visa lies with the South African High Commission,” he said.
The new system is already being applied at the South African missions in Kenya, DRC, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, China and India.
Background
Last November, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga asked government to table before Parliament a statement on the alleged mistreatment of Ugandans seeking visas at the South African Embassy.
Ms Kadaga asked Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain why it was becoming almost impossible to access South African visas at their Ugandan base.
