Unabridged birth certificates won’t stop child traffickers – Hanekom

TOURISM Minister Derek Hanekom has slammed the introduction of unabridged birth certificates, a prerequisite for child travellers entering the country, as “horrible, really horrible”.

He warned it would not necessarily combat child trafficking. Hanekom was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s annual global conference at the Mount Nelson on Thursday.

He said the law would be amended because it was creating “untold difficulties”.

He told hundreds of delegates who gathered in the ballroom of the hotel that although the law was implemented with “good intentions it did not have the desired effect”.

Hanekom said the Tourism Ministry regularly discussed the issue with its Home Affairs counterparts, who introduced the legislation in June to combat child trafficking and abduction.

The legislation requires travelling children to provide their birth certificate bearing both parents’ signatures. A child travelling with one parent also needs an affidavit from the other parent. A child travelling alone needs affidavits from both parents and the person they’re visiting.

“We are working furiously to change the law,” Hanekom said. “We are in constant dialogue with other government departments and Home Affairs to create easier access.”

Hanekom also said criminals forged “impeccable” travel documents or “they come illegally across the border” while ordinary people, including many who were “clearly not child abusers” struggled to get into South Africa.

He said most child traffick- ers were “inside the country” and moved children illegally across the border into neighbouring states.

South Africa “paid a heavy price” and was “stuck” because “legislative change” was required.

He said the country wanted to embark on “a different route” to deal with the issue “in a more innovative way”. He then assured the audience: “We are already on that route.”

Hanekom gave the example of a British family who stopped over in Dubai, had to spend a night there and wait until the original documents were sent from the UK.

His criticism of the laws came during his response to delegates’ questions after they listened to him discussing challenges with David Scowsill, chief executive officer of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Ralph Baard, the founder of Quo Student Travel in Spokane in Washington State, US, told Hanekom about 41 students who were denied access to South Africa, with some cancelling their trip.

“It was a nightmare for their parents,” Baard said.

Air France had refused to allow the 41 students to board.

The minister said it would be better for travellers who accompanied minors to produce “some sort of proof ” there was a legitimate relationship between them.

Hanekom berated unprofessional staff at Home Affairs. “We need better immigration officials.”

Baard and Scowsill, who described Hanekom as the best tourism minister in the world, received a standing ovation. henriette.geldenhuys@inl.co.za

UPSET: Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom