Babes’ desperate plea to go to US
Her permit application was late, US embassy says
In her last desperate attempt to get on the plane to US for the biggest night of her career, Babes Wodumo approached government to intervene.
The popular dancer failed to secure a visa to attend the star-studded BET Awards in Los Angeles happening on Sunday where she is nominated in the Best International Act: Africa category along with countrymen Nasty C and AKA, and Nigeria’s Davido, Wizkid, Mr Eazi and Tekno, and Ghana’s Stonebwoy.
Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesman Clayson Monyela confirmed that Babes approached the department for help only on Wednesday. Monyela said her management said that they were under the impression that BET was organising the visa for her.
“We wrote a supporting letter to the American consulate yesterday, and they responded that they cannot issue the visa because of time [constraints],” Monyela said. “We cannot force them to issue the visa, basically she is at their mercy.”
US embassy spokeswoman, Cindy Harvey said: “Due to privacy considerations, the US Embassy does not comment on the cases of individual visa applicants. For anyone wishing to travel to the United States, we strongly recommend they apply for their visas well in advance of their trip.”
According to US embassy website on visa laws, to obtain a visa, one needs to go through an interview process 60 days before the travel date.
A representative for Viacom International Media Networks Africa , a company that organises BET Awards in South Africa, said in a statement: “As Viacom International Media Networks Africa, we have assisted the 2017 BET Awards nominees in securing their travel requirements in a speedy manner.
“However, it has been brought to our attention by the management of the nominee in question that she has not secured a visa. We are in contact with her management and are working to find a solution.”
Babes might have to watch the BETs on TV, leaving her hordes of fans who were rooting for her disappointed. The American awards honour black excellence in music, acting and sports on TV.