On behalf of Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and indeed on my own behalf, we are indeed privileged to be accorded this opportunity to brief the media on the status of the Department of Home Affairs' contribution to the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
As we are all aware, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is now in full swing. Despite predictions by various prophets of doom, we are indeed, as a nation and government, proud that the historic African world cup has kicked off with a minimum of glitches.
We are quite certain that these glitches, which are not unique to South Africa and can be associated with other major global events, will be eliminated with the necessary speed.
Last week, at a briefing with the National Press Club, we elaborated at length on the department's overall state of readiness for the hosting of a successful World Cup and the measures we have implemented to meet government's guarantees to FIFA.
Today's briefing is a continuation of that process. As mentioned last week, through the department's immigration services, we have prioritised 34 ports of entry for daily monitoring, the provision of early warning signals and the implementation of contingency planning for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Through our 24 hour operational centre, we are monitoring the movements of travellers via the movement control system (MCS), the advanced passenger processing (APP) system and the deployment of airline liaison officers (ALOs) at strategic hubs abroad.
The success of the department's innovative movement control system linked to the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and law enforcement agencies and launched by Minister Dlamini Zuma with enhanced security features and faster traveller processing capacity is clearly evident since the commencement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The system will assist the country in facilitating the swift movement of persons into and out of the country, monitor those who overstay their welcome while assisting the country in combating crime and corruption.
The impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with regard to the increase in the number of foreign travellers to the country is clearly evident from information obtained through the movement control system reports.
During the period of 1 to 13 June, these systems have recorded the arrival 1 160 118 travellers (including South Africans) into the country. Of this figure, 456 423 travellers were foreigners.
During the same period in 2009, the arrival of 909 324 travellers were recorded. Of this figure 344 875 were foreigners. This increase for 2010 can be clearly attributed to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We are quite sure that this figure will continue increasing as the world cup progresses.
In the past 24 hours 5 000 passengers, those who have specifically travelled to South Africa for the world cup, were processed on the new system. Of this total, there were 61 FIFA accredited delegates and 4 939 spectators.
During period of 1 to 13 June, 6 933 contraventions have been identified comprising individuals overstaying in terms of their entry conditions, over penalties for temporary residence permit abuses and occurrences where a passport was flagged as lost or stolen.
The advanced passenger processing system, which allows us to bar undesirable elements (for example soccer hooligans and paedophiles) from entering South Africa before boarding from various countries, became operational on 23 November 2009. 73 percent of all airlines flying to South Africa are now signed up to the advanced passenger processing system.
To further ensure the prevention of undesirable elements entering the country, the department is working closely with other security agencies.
During the period of 1 to 13 June, 21 hits was affected through the advanced passenger processing system and these travellers were denied permission to board due to their travel documents not compliant with immigration requirements including visas, expired travel documents and being placed on the visa and entry stop list. In the same period, a total of 282 176 travellers boarded flights utilising the advanced passenger processing system.
Through the advanced passenger processing system, we were able track down, intercept and subsequently deported an English and 14 other Argentinean soccer hooligans. The Argentinean soccer hooligans subsequently attempted to enter our country travelling through Angola. Again, our efficient movement control system was able to block their entry into South Africa.
These successes were a consequence of cooperation between the Department of Home Affairs and other domestic and international security agencies. In addition, through the deployment of airline liaison officers, we prevented a further 79 travellers from boarding flights to South Africa.
Under the leadership of Minister Dlamini Zuma, the Department of Home Affairs is proud to have been part of the successful planning and execution of the Home Affairs guarantees to FIFA for the successful delivery of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Our collective efforts, as a government, are a reaffirmation of South Africa's readiness to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and a celebration of the 32 teams that will participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In conclusion, we take this opportunity to remind the nation that tomorrow, June 16 is yet another massive moment for the country. It is indeed appropriate that, on Youth Day, Bafana Bafana takes another major step towards qualifying for the next round of the world cup. We are certain that they will do us proud.
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
15 June 2010
