South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has clarified the circumstances surrounding Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr’s previous visa rejection
He explained that the decision was based on an error in the documents submitted by her team
Moroe revealed that the incident happened in February 2024, contrary to reports suggesting it was a recent development.
According to the diplomat, Ayra Starr’s application did not satisfy South Africa’s immigration requirements because the yellow fever certificate submitted by her team was issued by another country rather than Nigeria, where the singer is from.
He stressed that the decision had nothing to do with Ayra Starr’s celebrity status or any policy targeted at Nigerian entertainers.
Moroe explained that the issue was eventually addressed after South African officials engaged with the singer’s representatives and clarified the documentation required.
Following the resolution, Ayra Starr and her team were granted a one-year visa that allowed her to travel to South Africa to perform in 2024.
The Consul-General also rejected the suggestion that South Africa applies different visa standards to celebrities, insisting that every applicant is assessed according to the country’s immigration laws.
He said:
“One of the challenges was that they did not submit an appropriate yellow fever certificate. They submitted the yellow fever certificate of another country when they were supposed to submit the yellow fever certificate of their home country.”
“Subsequently, the matter was resolved amicably and they were granted a one-year visa to go and perform in South Africa in 2024, and I think that was what they forgot to mention.”
“If you meet the requirement for a visa, whether you are a star or not, tall, short, black or white, if you qualify, you will get it. But if you don’t, regardless of who you are, the immigration section will uphold the immigration law of the country.”
“Whether you are Ayra Starr or anyone, if you qualify, you will get it. The narrative that we have stopped issuing visas to Nigerians is false,” he said.
The clarification comes amid renewed claims that South Africa had been rejecting visa applications from Nigerian entertainers and had tightened its entry requirements for Nigerians.
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