South Africans have reacted to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement of relaxed visa rules for Nigerians, accusing the government of compromising national safety.

The controversial policy includes granting five-year multiple-entry visas to qualifying Nigerian businesspeople and allowing Nigerian tourists to apply for visas without submitting their passports.

The announcement was made during the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Cape Town on Tuesday, with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The relaxed rules have sparked outrage among some South Africans, who took to X formerly Twitter, to criticise the decision.

“Our efforts to create a favourable environment included simplifying the visa process for Nigerian business people travelling to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people were granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” he said.

@visse_ss wrote, “A 5-year visa deal? More like a 5-year disaster for South Africa. Ramaphosa is compromising our economy, safety, and sovereignty. Who gave him the right to gamble with our future for his personal benefit?”

@djstago noted, “Ramaphosa is always hallucinating nowadays.”

@NgamlaJo wrote, “When a leader is intentionally doing exactly the very same things his people despise the most. This is a deliberate attempt to provoke the masses and create an outcry hoping to be kicked out of the office he so much hates and desperately wants to exit as in yesterday. Sise Kakeni la.”

@Inenekazi1: “Are you bloody kidding me?!!!! This man NEVER listens to us. Can’t he see these people are a PROBLEM AND GIVING THEM CARTE BLANCHE IS NOT A SOLUTION.”

@Msigi_Emotion: We’ve season useless people but nah man this man remains unmatched

Vanguard News