By Annisa Essack

26:06:2019

Home-affairs acting director-general Thulani Mavuso has announced that the new e-visa system is expected to launch in October 2019.

The system will enable investment in the country and make it more efficient to admit people with sought after skills. The Department of Tourism has said that South Africa’s visa regime had previously been one of the constraints for tourism, and the roll-out of the e-visas will be beneficial for both tourists and for the local economy.

The system will also save people a lot of time as they spend much less time at airports and waiting for administration approval.

Home Affairs is also planning to pilot new e-gates at a number of South African airports in 2019. The gates will first be piloted at Cape Town International Airport and will form part of the implementation of the Biometric Movement Control System (BMCS). A further rollout will be done in a phased approach, with OR Tambo, and King Shaka International airports to follow.

The first phase will focus on South African passport holders excluding minors.