With barely a month to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, host nation South Africa has unfolded special packages for Confederation of African Football (CAF) delegates as well of football teams coming for the “African World Cup.”

The good news was broken by South Africa’s Homes Affairs Director General, Mkuseli Apleni, while speaking with newsmen. He also disclosed that dedicated lanes would be created at South Africa’s ports of entry to facilitate the swift movement of soccer fans and officials from the Confederation of African Football, CAF who will be flocking to the country for the championship.

“Dedicated lanes will be created at ports of entry to facilitate the swift movement of the CAF delegations and spectators,” Apleni stated.

He disclosed that the dedicated lanes would be created at Lanseria, OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town International airports as well as the Beitbridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg Bridge, Kopfontein and Oshoek border posts.

Apleni said a few days before the tournament kicks off on 19 January, the department would extend working hours at key ports of entry as well as increase the number of departmental officers working at these offices during the tournament period.

While CAF officials will be able to use an official CAF letter as a form of accreditation for entry and departure, football fans are required to apply for a visitor’s visa in line with normal visa requirements.

Apleni said the department would grant visa waivers to the CAF delegation, including national teams and members of various football federations, as not all African countries were exempted from visa requirements to enter South Africa.

“We have also taken some steps to strengthen the department’s operations through the AFCON period, including the deployment of additional Home Affairs staff to South African diplomatic missions in Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria in order to assist in the swift issuance of visas and work permits,” he said.

Apleni said the department’s response units in Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal would be strengthened to increase their capacity to manage illegal immigration as well as ensure swift responses to emergencies involving illegal migrants.

•Photo: South Africa beckons. Photo courtesy guardian.co.uk

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