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Interception of 67 Pakistani Nationals at OR Tambo Airport
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Home Affairs Minister, has approved the interception of a group of 67 Pakistani nationals at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. These individuals are suspected of entering South Africa without adhering to the country’s immigration regulations.
As per an official statement released on Sunday, Pakistani nationals were denied entry into the country during the early hours of the preceding day. Their failure to pass the immigration test, which assessed the validity of their visas and the duration of their intended stay, led to their refusal.
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This group of 67 individuals with questionable visa statuses was part of a larger flight carrying 268 passengers originating from Dubai and destined for South Africa.
The interception was the outcome of a calculated sting operation. Alarmed by suspicious and inexplicable trends, authorities mobilised the operation. Immigration officers conducted interviews, probing the passengers about their travel plans, purpose in South Africa, and intended accommodation, particularly since it was their inaugural visit to the country. During these interviews, discrepancies emerged, such as the provision of fictitious hotel names and the names of alleged relatives, some of whom were non-existent.
The operation was led collaboratively by the Department of Home Affairs Counter Corruption Branch, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), the State Security Agency, and the Border Management Authority (BMA).
In response, the group of intercepted individuals has been returned to Pakistan, with the costs of repatriation borne by themselves.
Minister Motsoaledi lamented the situation, indicating that the individuals aspired to visit South Africa but could not substantiate their travel intentions and purposes. He underlined that the only course of action was their repatriation to their home country, as allowing their entry was untenable.
Highlighting a related concern, Motsoaledi noted that local hotels had registered complaints about a surge in Pakistani nationals reserving accommodations but failed to fulfil their bookings. This led to financial losses for these establishments and resulted in the unavailability of rooms for potential visitors.
The minister emphasised that the Department of Home Affairs has been compelled to heighten its vigilance. He expressed profound worry over the emerging trend and identified an abuse of the newly implemented e-Visa system, which was designed to streamline tourist entry to the country. He asserted that such abuse would not be tolerated.
The incident underscores the complexity of managing immigration laws, the importance of thorough screening, and the need to safeguard entry systems against misuse.
Source: 67 Pakistani nationals intercepted at OR Tambo Airport
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Photo: Supplied by Citizen
