Over 600 denied entry into SA during World Cup

Six hundred and thirteen travellers have been barred entry into South Africa during the Soccer World Cup, the Home Affairs department said this week.

Spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Wednesday that since the beginning of the month, the travellers were denied entry because their names appeared either on the Interpol, Fifa or South Africa’s Visa and Entry Stop List.

“The 613 foreign travellers were detected through South Africa’s movement control system launched in May this year,” he said.

In Dubai, South African home affairs airline liaison officers prevented two Pakistani nationals from boarding flights to South Africa. The men were found to be in possession of fraudulent South African temporary residence permits, Mamoepa said.

“The details of the two Pakistanis have now been placed on South Africa’s Visa and Entry Stop List.

The South African movement control system, which is linked to law enforcement agencies and the South African Revenue Services (SARS), also prevented 32 soccer hooligans from Argentina and England from entering the country,” he said.

The Home Affairs border and incidence management centre also refused entry to over 14 000 foreign travellers who violated South Africa’s Immigration Act such by being in possession of lost or stolen passports.

Since the beginning of the month, 2 173 764 foreign travellers entered the country.

“This represents a 32% increase of 523 798 from the total of 1 649 966 foreign travellers who visited South Africa in 2009. - Sapa