UAE Embassy
The South African government on Friday moved to address speculation around the visit to the Eastern Cape by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan and a large entourage.
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said even though the visit to a game reserve in the Eastern Cape owned by the Sheikh was private, the government took the step of sharing information with the nation because of the unfortunate and uninformed speculation around the visit.
The Minister was flanked by Cabinet colleagues from the Departments of Home Affairs, Police, Agriculture, and Transport.
“The public discussion on the visit has generated a range of insinuations that something improper had unfolded in the Eastern Cape's preparation for this visit by a prestigious guest to the country,” she said.
Ntshavheni said South Africans were right to be vigilant about such matters, but said: “Our vigilance should not make us jump to worse assumptions and conclusions about our country or this administration.”
She said the visit by the President of the UAE was preceded by formal diplomatic correspondence from the UAE government to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
"This correspondence reflects the respect shown and care taken by the President of the UAE in informing South Africa of the planned visit and allowing us to make the necessary arrangements in good time," Minister Ntshavheni said.
The Minister said part of the preparation for the President's visit to the Eastern Cape was the issuing, by the Department of Home Affairs, of visas to members of the entourage who required them, while others “carried passports from countries with whom South Africa has visa-free travel agreements."
Ntshavheni said the Department of Transport also processed the application for a landing request through the normal channels for such requests and a request to declare Bulembu Airport at Bhisho a temporary port of entry.
She said immigration services were also rendered upon arrival, while SAPS and SARS Customs officials were also on hand to perform their “relevant statutory duties upon the arrival of the entourage, with similar services being provided on departure.”
"The hosting of the UAE President has conformed to international diplomatic standards and is fully compliant with South African laws," the Minister said.
