The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, has said Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr, was initially denied a visa because she submitted an inappropriate yellow fever certificate.

Moroe, who disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said the visa rejection was not a recent development as portrayed, but occurred in February 2024.

The envoy said the controversy resurfaced after reports alleged that Starr and her team were denied entry visas to South Africa, prompting the South African mission to meet with her team and clarify the requirements that needed to be fulfilled.

According to him, the rejection was based on failure to meet visa requirements and was not related to the singer’s personality or status as a Nigerian seeking entry into the country.

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.”

The professor said applicants were assessed based on immigration requirements regardless of their status.

South African Consulate, Patrick Matshisevhe; Project Manager of Blak Dave, TRUFOM, Elienai Julius; Consul-General of South Africa to Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe; Creative Director of Alpheria, Akabike Kosi and DJ Solomon Akinkunmi during the presentation of Visas at the South African Embassy in Lagos on Wednesday. Photo: Daniel Ayantoye

“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,” he said.

He explained that travellers applying for visas are required to submit relevant documents, including a yellow fever certificate from their home country, as proof of vaccination before travelling to South Africa.

The clarification comes amid renewed concerns over alleged visa restrictions on Nigerians travelling to South Africa following claims that some Nigerian entertainers had faced difficulties obtaining entry permits.

The South African diplomat dismissed claims that the country had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians, saying visa decisions were based strictly on requirements.

He said, “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 compared with previous years.

He said applications, which previously averaged between 40 and 60 monthly, had risen to between 60 and 80 monthly.

“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,” he added.

Meanwhile, the South African Consulate in Lagos on Wednesday issued visas to five Nigerian disc jockeys travelling to the country for an event.

One of the DJs, Solomon Akinkunmi, who spoke with our correspondent at the embassy, confirmed the development.

He said, “We were five that were given visas. I was given a one-year visa, while others were given three months each.” (Text, excluding headline: Saturday PUNCH)