Update on travel advisory to South Africa |10 September 2019

Seychellois can travel to South Africa, but must remain vigilant

The department of foreign affairs is advising all Seychellois travelling to South Africa that they can do so as long as they remain vigilant and take extra precautionary measures irrespective of their whereabouts.

In a communiqué released yesterday, the department wrote that it would like to advise Seychellois citizens residing in South Africa and visitors planning to travel to South Africa to avoid areas where there are unrests and to encourage them to be on alert at all times.

“We further advise that the following areas are to be avoided at all times: In Pretoria its central business district and Marabastad and in Johannesburg in the central business district as well as the Hillbrow, Turfontein, Jeppestown, Jeppestreet, Malvern and Tembisa areas. All other provinces are generally quiet although usual precaution when travelling to South Africa remains necessary,” wrote the communiqué.

The diplomatic corps, including the Seychelles high commission in Pretoria, met with the department of international relations and cooperation of South Africa yesterday morning and has been reassured of the South African government’s commitment to put an end to the unrest and to work towards finding a lasting solution.

The communiqué added: “The department of foreign affairs has received assurances from the Seychelles high commission in Pretoria that the universities where Seychellois are currently studying remain largely quiet and far from the troubled areas. The high commission is in contact with most of the Seychellois students there and is keeping them regularly updated on any developments. It is also in regular contact with its other government offices in South Africa, principally the Seychelles Tourism Board offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and its consular office in Durban.”

Anyone wishing to contact the high commission for further information can do so on its consular hotline: +27 604 907 952 or email us on sez@seychelleshc.co.za

The department of foreign affairs and the High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles in Pretoria will continue to monitor the situation and will keep the public informed accordingly.

Last week, the department of foreign affairs issued travel alerts for Seychellois citizens headed to South Africa as the nation faced riots and apparent xenophobic violence.