South Africa initially denied Afrobeats star Ayra Starr a visa because her team submitted an incorrect yellow fever certificate, the country’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has said.
Moroe explained that the incident occurred in February 2024 and was not a recent development, contrary to reports suggesting that the singer had only recently been denied entry into South Africa.
Speaking in an interview with The Punch, the envoy said Ayra Starr’s team submitted a yellow fever certificate issued by another country instead of the required certificate from Nigeria, her country of origin.
“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,” Moroe said.
He dismissed suggestions that the decision was targeted at Ayra Starr or Nigerian nationals, stressing that visa applications are assessed based on compliance with South African immigration requirements.
According to him, the issue was later resolved after South African officials engaged the singer’s team and explained the necessary requirements.
“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,” he added.
Moroe maintained that celebrity status does not influence visa decisions, saying all applicants are subject to the same immigration rules.
“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,” he said.
The clarification followed renewed claims that some Nigerian entertainers had been denied South African visas, prompting speculation that the country had tightened its entry restrictions on Nigerians.
Moroe, however, dismissed the claims, insisting that South Africa continues to issue visas to Nigerians who meet the required conditions.
“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. We are not politicians; we don’t get into politics. Whether there are unrest or not, if you qualify for the visa, you will be given,” he said.
The Consul-General also disclosed that visa applications from Nigerians had increased in recent months, rising from an average of 40 to 60 applications monthly to between 60 and 80.
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