Ayra Starr denied visa over wrong certificate — S’African envoy
The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has revealed that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr was previously refused a South African visa because she submitted an invalid yellow fever certificate.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Moroe clarified that the visa issue occurred in February 2024 and was not a recent development, as some reports had suggested.
He said the matter resurfaced after claims emerged that Ayra Starr and members of her team had been denied visas to enter South Africa. In response, officials from the South African mission engaged the singer’s team to explain the visa requirements they needed to meet.
According to the diplomat, the refusal was strictly based on failure to satisfy immigration requirements and had nothing to do with Starr’s fame or her nationality.
Moroe explained that one of the problems was that the singer’s team submitted a yellow fever vaccination certificate issued by another country instead of the required certificate from their country of origin.
He said the issue was subsequently resolved, after which Starr and her team were granted a one-year visa to travel to South Africa for performances in 2024.
The Consul-General stressed that South African visa applicants are treated according to the country’s immigration laws, regardless of their celebrity status.
He said anyone who meets the requirements will be issued a visa, while applicants who fail to satisfy the conditions will be refused, irrespective of their identity or social standing.
Moroe further explained that travellers applying for South African visas are required to provide relevant documentation, including a valid yellow fever certificate from their home country confirming vaccination.
His comments come amid renewed concerns over alleged difficulties faced by some Nigerians, particularly entertainers, in obtaining South African visas.
However, Moroe dismissed claims that South Africa had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians, insisting that applications are assessed strictly on whether applicants meet the established requirements.
He said visa applications from Nigeria had actually increased in recent months, rising from an average of 40 to 60 applications per month to between 60 and 80.
Meanwhile, the South African Consulate in Lagos issued visas on Wednesday to five Nigerian disc jockeys travelling to South Africa for an event.
One of the DJs, Solomon Akinkunmi, confirmed that all five applicants received visas. He said he was issued a one-year visa, while the remaining four were granted visas valid for three months.
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