International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has condemned reports that citizens from African countries supporting the global reparations campaign are facing increased visa rejections, warning that no nation should be punished for pursuing what he described as a legitimate demand for historical justice.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Lamola said it would be unfair and unreasonable for Western countries to use visa policies to pressure African governments into abandoning calls for reparations for colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
His remarks follow reports by immigration advocacy organisations that visa applications from citizens of some African countries are being rejected at higher-than-usual rates. While no Western government has officially announced such a policy, the allegations have emerged amid growing opposition from some right-wing political groups in Europe to the reparations movement.
The UK’s Reform party has called on European governments to stop issuing visas to nationals of countries pursuing reparations for slavery and colonialism, arguing that the campaign is being used to shame the United Kingdom. British media have quoted the party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, as saying the UK was being “ridiculed on the world stage” by the reparations movement.
Lamola dismissed any suggestion that visa restrictions should be used as leverage against African countries.
“We do not think that this resolution should be used to punish anyone, any African, anywhere in the world, for visa or for any reason. Because this resolution is for justice, it’s for reparations, it’s a collective resolution of the African Union, and also of the United Nations. So it’s now international law, because it’s a resolution of the UN,” he said.
The minister said singling out Africans for visa restrictions would amount to unjust discrimination.
“You cannot select a particular country or a continent to punish. Africans cannot be unjustly excluded from any visa or any programme anywhere because they are from Africa,” he said.
Ghana is leading the African Union’s reparations campaign and recently secured United Nations backing for a resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”.
Lamola said South Africa remains an active participant in the campaign, with senior government representatives taking part in international engagements on reparations.
He said the country fully supports the African Union’s position and the United Nations resolution calling for justice and reparations for the legacy of slavery and colonialism.