President Cyril Ramaphosa: Launch of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation

Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the launch of South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorisation, OR Tambo International Airport

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber,
Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia de Lille,
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Njabulo Nzuza,
Director-General of Home Affairs, Mr Tommy Makhode,
Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Nakampe Masiapato,
Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, Dr Johnstone Makhubu,
Lead for the Work Visa Review Team, Mr Mavuso Msimang,
Senior officials,
Industry partners and stakeholders,
Members of the media,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good day.

Every nation is known by the way it welcomes the world.

The first impression that a visitor forms of a country is often not at a hotel, a conference centre or a game reserve.

It begins at the border.

It begins with whether that country projects confidence, efficiency, security and hospitality.

In today's world, countries compete not only through the strength of their economies or the quality of their infrastructure. They compete through the ease with which people can visit, invest, trade, study and do business.

Today we are taking another important step in ensuring that South Africa competes with the very best.

We gather at OR Tambo International Airport, our country's busiest gateway to the world, to launch South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorisation system.

This is far more than the introduction of a new digital platform.

It is a statement about the kind of country we are building.

It is about making South Africa more open to opportunity, more welcoming to legitimate travellers, more secure for our citizens and more competitive in the global economy.

It is fitting that we launch this initiative at an airport that bears the name of Oliver Reginald Tambo.

For many years, OR Tambo travelled the world to rally support for the struggle against apartheid.

He carried South Africa's hopes across continents.

He took South Africa to the world.

Today, through this new system, we are strengthening the way in which the world comes to South Africa.

His statue stands in this airport welcoming visitors from every corner of the globe.

Today we honour that legacy by ensuring that South Africa's welcome is not only warm, but also modern, efficient and secure.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation system will make travel to South Africa easier, faster and more predictable.

It will encourage tourism.

It will support trade.

It will attract investment.

It will facilitate skills and knowledge exchange.

And at the same time, it will strengthen the integrity of our borders and improve our ability to manage migration effectively.

This reform reflects a simple but important truth.

In the global economy, accessibility matters.

Investors compare countries.

Tourists compare countries.

Conference organisers compare countries.

Students compare countries.

Highly skilled professionals compare countries.

Every unnecessary delay, every cumbersome administrative process and every avoidable obstacle encourages people to look elsewhere.

Visa reform is therefore not simply an immigration reform.

It is an economic reform.

It is a jobs reform.

Yesterday Statistics South Africa released the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

The figures remind us that unemployment, especially among young people, remains the greatest challenge facing our nation.

Every reform we undertake must ultimately answer one question:

Will it help create work and expand opportunity for South Africans?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation answers that question with a resounding yes.

More visitors mean more hotel bookings.

More restaurants filled.

More tour operators employed.

More flights.

More conferences.

More exports.

More investment.

More opportunities for South Africans to earn an income and build a better future.

This initiative forms part of our broader programme of structural reform under Operation Vulindlela.

When Operation Vulindlela was established in 2020, it recognised that South Africa's low growth was not the result of one single problem.

It was the result of structural constraints that had accumulated over many years.

Those constraints affected electricity.

They affected logistics.

They affected telecommunications.

They affected water infrastructure.

They affected the ease of doing business.

And they affected our immigration system.

Our response has therefore been comprehensive.

We have reformed our electricity market and unlocked unprecedented private investment in generation.

We have modernised the telecommunications sector.

We are reforming our freight rail and ports system.

We are strengthening water infrastructure.

And now we are fundamentally modernising the way people enter South Africa.

These are not isolated reforms.

Together they are removing barriers to growth, investment and job creation.

They are making South Africa a more competitive economy.

Most importantly, they are demonstrating that meaningful reform is possible when government works with purpose, urgency and partnership.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation system is also a central pillar of the Department of Home Affairs' ambitious Home Affairs @ Home vision.

It represents a decisive shift towards a fully digital department that provides secure, efficient, accessible and world-class public services.

Around the world, citizens increasingly judge governments by the quality of the services they provide.

People expect services that are digital.

They expect speed.

They expect transparency.

They expect reliability.

That is the direction in which South Africa is moving.

Through this system, eligible travellers will be able to apply online from anywhere in the world without needing to visit a South African mission or visa processing centre.

Applications will be processed more quickly.

Decisions will be more predictable.

The experience of travelling to South Africa will be significantly improved.

To support South Africa's hosting of the G20 Presidency, this system was initially introduced in four strategic source markets: China, India, Indonesia and Mexico.

We are now preparing to expand the system to additional countries.

Over time, digital processing will extend beyond visitor authorisations to include work visas, study visas and other immigration services.

This marks the beginning of a much broader transformation.

As we make travel easier, we also recognise the legitimate concerns of South Africans regarding border security, illegal immigration and compliance with our laws.

Let me therefore be absolutely clear.

A modern immigration system is not a weaker immigration system.

It is a smarter immigration system.

Technology allows us to know more about travellers before they arrive rather than after they enter.

It enables stronger biometric verification.

It strengthens identity management.

It improves risk assessment.

It enhances border security.

It helps us identify those who seek to abuse our immigration system while making lawful travel faster and easier.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation therefore strengthens both economic openness and national security.

This is fully aligned with government's Comprehensive Approach to Migration Management.

We are strengthening enforcement of immigration and labour laws.

We are improving border management.

We are modernising legislation and policy.

We are deepening cooperation with countries across our region and continent.

And through the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, we are building a migration system that serves both our developmental objectives and our national security interests.

The success of this initiative depends upon partnership.

It requires the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Revenue Service, the Department of Tourism, South African Tourism, the aviation industry, our diplomatic missions, technology partners and the private sector to work together as one.

Our borders are not merely points of entry.

They are strategic national assets.

They are where security, trade, tourism, logistics and economic development come together.

They demand that government functions as one integrated system.

Today's launch is therefore about much more than technology.

It is evidence that South Africa is capable of reform.

Too often there is a perception that governments cannot change.

Today's achievement demonstrates the opposite.

It shows that when government sets clear goals, embraces innovation, strengthens accountability and works in partnership with business and society, meaningful change is possible.

That should give confidence to every South African that our programme of reform is delivering real and measurable progress.

I wish to commend the Minister of Home Affairs, the Deputy Minister, the Director-General, the leadership and staff of the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, all participating government departments, our technology partners and every stakeholder who has contributed to bringing this important reform to life.

You have demonstrated what can be achieved through dedication, innovation and collaboration.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today's launch is about much more than visas.

It is about the future of our country.

It is about building a South Africa that welcomes the world with confidence.

A South Africa that attracts investment.

A South Africa that embraces innovation.

A South Africa that protects its borders while opening its doors to lawful travellers.

A South Africa whose public institutions are efficient, modern and responsive.

This is the country we are building.

It is a country that understands that economic growth requires both openness and security.

It is a country determined to compete with the best in the world.

Above all, it is a country committed to creating work, expanding opportunity and improving the lives of all its people.

Let the launch of the Electronic Travel Authorisation be remembered not simply as the introduction of a new digital system, but as another important milestone in South Africa's journey towards becoming a modern, capable and competitive state.

It is therefore my honour and privilege to officially launch South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorisation.

I thank you.

#GovZAUpdates