NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1518 / NW1682E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 10 June 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15 of 2011
Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(1) Why are Taiwanese nationals travelling to South Africa not visa-
exempt;
(2) whether her Department intends to negotiate to achieve visa exemption
for Taiwanese nationals travelling to South Africa; if not, why not;
if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) what criteria does her Department apply in granting visa exemption to
a country?
NW1682E
REPLY:
1) There is, currently, no Visa waiver agreement between the Government
of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and the Government of Taiwan.
2) The Department of Home Affairs has not received a request from Taiwan
for a visa waiver, and therefore, no negotiations are taking place
between the two countries to achieve Visa exemption for Taiwanese
nationals travelling to the RSA.
3) A Visa exemption is considered, when a request for the same is made by
the Government of a country which is visa-restricted, through the
Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Aspects that
are taken into consideration when considering a visa waiver agreement
are as follows:
⢠Whether the agreement will be on the basis of reciprocity
⢠The number of passport holders of the relevant country who have
travelled to the RSA, during the past twelve months
⢠The number of travellers who have overstayed the validity of
their visas, or transgressed the conditions of their visas
⢠The number of travellers, who have resorted to apply for
political asylum.
The Department, also, consults with the State Security Agency, and the
South African Police Service.