The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has explained that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr was initially denied a South African visa in 2024 because she submitted an inappropriate yellow fever certificate.
Moroe disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, clarifying that the visa rejection occurred in February 2024 and was not a recent development.
The envoy said the issue resurfaced following reports that Ayra Starr and members of her team had been denied entry visas to South Africa. He said the South African mission subsequently engaged the singer’s team to explain the visa requirements that needed to be met.
According to Moroe, the rejection was strictly based on the failure to meet immigration requirements and had nothing to do with Ayra Starr’s status as a Nigerian entertainer.
He explained that the singer’s team submitted a yellow fever certificate issued by another country instead of the required certificate from their home country.
Moroe said the matter was later resolved amicably, with Ayra Starr and her team eventually receiving a one-year visa to travel to South Africa for performances in 2024.
He stressed that South African immigration authorities assess visa applicants based on established requirements, regardless of their fame or social status.
The diplomat said applicants who meet the necessary requirements will be granted visas, while those who fail to meet them will be rejected in line with South African immigration laws.
Moroe also dismissed claims that South Africa had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians, describing the reports as false.
He said visa applications from Nigerians had actually increased, rising from an average of 40 to 60 applications monthly to between 60 and 80 applications.
The clarification comes amid renewed concerns over alleged difficulties faced by some Nigerian entertainers seeking to travel to South Africa.
Meanwhile, the South African Consulate in Lagos on Wednesday issued visas to five Nigerian disc jockeys travelling to the country for an event.
One of the DJs, Solomon Akinkunmi, confirmed that all five applicants received visas. He said he was granted a one-year visa, while the other four received three-month visas.