By JAMES KUNDA –
ZAMBIANS travelling to South Africa particularly to meet church leaders have been put on high alert to avoid being swindled.
In a statement issued yesterday, Press Secretary at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa Nicky Shabolyo advised Zambians travelling
to that country to ensure that they make adequate arrangements before setting off on the trip.
“The advisory comes in the wake of several Zambians getting stranded while in South Africa after running out of money.
“The Zambians are, as a result, forced to go without food and to spend nights in the open,” Mr Shabolyo said.
He said the Zambian Mission in that country did not have sufficient resources to repatriate multiple people approaching it for assistance after being stranded in South Africa.
Mr Shabolyo said individuals planning to travel to South Africa should ensure that they contact their hosts and gather all the necessary information pertaining to their trip.
“It will be important for travellers to make prior arrangements for accommodation, transportation, food and to carry enough money to last them the entire duration of their stay in South Africa,” he said.
Mr Shabolyo said the amended South African Immigration Act prohibited foreigners from applying for temporary residence permits while in that
country and arising from the implementation of the said law, there had seen an increase in the administrative fines imposed on people contravening the Act.