SA and Ukraine still concluding visa-free access agreement

JOHANNESBURG - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says an agreement to grant Ukrainian diplomats visa-free access to South Africa is yet to be signed.

But he said it’s only a matter of time before it's concluded.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber got The Presidency’s back up on Sunday when he announced he signed the waiver.

The Presidency hit back and said that his announcement was premature since he had no authorisation from the president.

Lamola said the visa waiver for Ukrainian diplomats and official passport holders was work started by his predecessor Naledi Pandor.

On Monday, hosting Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha in Pretoria, Lamola said the negotiations were ripe for conclusion. 

"The agreement has not yet been signed. Once all the diplomatic processes have been concluded, the agreement will be signed and we will announce once all those processes have been followed.

In a statement on foreign policy issued by The Presidency, it said Lamola would sign the agreement on the visa waiver during Sybiha’s visit, putting itself at odds with home affairs minister Schreiber who posted to his social media that he had signed the agreement.

Meanwhile, Sybiha has requested visa-free access to South Africa for all Ukrainian citizens.

Currently, they have to apply for a visa to enter South Africa at the embassy in Warsaw, Poland.

"This would be a good step to facilitate people to people to contact with business ties, cultural exchange, and tourism."

Lamola said internal processes would now begin to discuss Ukraine’s second visa waiver request.