South African Envoy Clarifies Ayra Starr Visa Denial Over Yellow Fever Certificate Issue
The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, has clarified that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr was initially denied a visa because she submitted an inappropriate yellow fever certificate.
Moroe said the rejection was based on failure to meet visa requirements and was not related to the singer’s personality or status as a Nigerian seeking entry into the country.
He noted that the controversy resurfaced after reports claimed Starr and her team were denied entry visas to South Africa, prompting the South African mission to meet with her team and clarify the requirements that needed to be fulfilled.
He stated, “I do not see the relevance of that rejection to the development of today, except for using that rejection to sow division.”
“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 perform in South Africa in 2024, a detail that was overlooked in the earlier reports.
Moroe maintained that applicants are assessed based on immigration requirements regardless of their status.
He explained that travellers applying for visas must submit relevant documents, including a yellow fever certificate from their home country, as proof of vaccination before travelling to South Africa.
“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. 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.”
Moroe also disclosed that visa applications from Nigerians have increased to between 60 and 80 monthly, up from the previous range of 40 to 60 applications per month.
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