JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AUGUST 17: Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu listens as the Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe addresses the media on the upcoming ANC national general council on August 17, 2015 at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, South Africa. The council is held every three years to review the ANCs policies and […]
South Africa slams Oz for ‘tarnishing its reputation’ with travel advisory
Lindiwe Sisulu isn’t happy with the Australians after the travel advisory on South Africa went viral this week. The cover picture for this story is pretty fitting for how we imagine Sisulu responded to it.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AUGUST 17: Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu listens as the Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe addresses the media on the upcoming ANC national general council on August 17, 2015 at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, South Africa. The council is held every three years to review the ANCs policies and […]
As if Australian cricketers coming over here and misbehaving wasn’t enough, the South African government has now hit back at Australia’s travel advice – just weeks after Peter Dutton’s comments about ‘persecuted white farmers‘ threatened to ignite a diplomatic row.
Australia’s travel advisory for Mzansi went viral this week – and it wasn’t pretty. As it turns out, South African officials have been asking the Aussies to amended their advisory… but they have apparently refused to do so.
International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s department released a statement saying the South African government took “strong exception” to a travel advisory posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller website.
“The travel advisory has the potential not only to deter Australians from visiting South Africa, but also to tarnish our country’s image,” the statement read.
“Officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have in the past requested, without success, that the advisory be amended to reflect the situation in South Africa as it relates to the true experiences of foreign tourists.
“The decision to escalate the matter follows these unsuccessful attempts and indicates the seriousness with which the South African government values the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy.”
The travel advisory from Australia said those who visit South Africa must exercise a “high degree of caution”.
“Exercise a high degree of caution because of the high level of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times. Monitor media and other sources of information about possible new security risks,” the advice says.
“There is a threat of terrorism in South Africa. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners such as shopping centres.”
Hmm, terrorism?
The UK government also got on the “terrorism in South Africa” train recently after two Britons in KwaZulu-Natal were kidnapped.
