News / National
SA travel requirement for children queried
08 Jan 2015 at 19:22hrs | Views
There are mixed feelings over the legal requirement by the South African government that a parent travelling with a child be in possession of consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent.
South African visa regulations stipulate that where parents are travelling with a child, they must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents.
In the case of a single parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate and consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered.
Concerned members of the public say while the law is good in combating child trafficking, it does not cater for single, divorced or widowed parents.
The Cross Border Traders Association chairman, Mr Killer Zivhu said most of its single or widowed parents who do business while travelling with minors are highly disadvantaged by the law.
Most complications however arise when parents of that child are not in agreement to a point where the child's interests are sacrificed at the ego of disagreements.
South African President Jacob Zuma and the Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor signed the new immigration regulations on the 16th of May 2014 in a move that marked the first time since 2004 that the law has been adjusted.
South African visa regulations stipulate that where parents are travelling with a child, they must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents.
In the case of a single parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate and consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered.
Concerned members of the public say while the law is good in combating child trafficking, it does not cater for single, divorced or widowed parents.
The Cross Border Traders Association chairman, Mr Killer Zivhu said most of its single or widowed parents who do business while travelling with minors are highly disadvantaged by the law.
Most complications however arise when parents of that child are not in agreement to a point where the child's interests are sacrificed at the ego of disagreements.
South African President Jacob Zuma and the Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor signed the new immigration regulations on the 16th of May 2014 in a move that marked the first time since 2004 that the law has been adjusted.
Source - zbc
