South African President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched the country’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system on August 12, aimed at facilitating travel while strengthening border security and supporting tourism, investment and economic growth, Xinhua reported.
Ramaphosa launched the system at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa’s busiest international gateway, saying the ETA would make travel to the country “easier, faster and more predictable.” He said the initiative would make South Africa “more open to opportunity, more welcoming to legitimate travelers, more secure for our citizens and more competitive in the global economy.”
“It will encourage tourism. It will support trade. It will attract investment. It will facilitate skills and knowledge exchange,” Ramaphosa said, according to Xinhua, adding that the system would also strengthen border management and migration control.
Under the digital system, eligible travellers can apply online without visiting a South African embassy or visa processing centre, with applications expected to be processed within 24 hours.
South Africa initially piloted the ETA for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico during its G20 presidency last year, processing more than 200,000 applications during that period. The system operated free of charge throughout the pilot phase, but South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has since introduced a mandatory ZAR500 ($31) processing fee, due to take effect from August 17.