The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, has explained why Nigerian singer Ayra Starr was initially denied a visa to enter South Africa.

The clarification comes amid renewed debate over the treatment of Nigerian and other African nationals in South Africa, following calls by some South Africans for Black Africans from other countries to leave the country.

The controversy resurfaced after South African singer Tyla’s team announced Nigeria as one of the countries she would visit during her tour. Some Nigerians subsequently called for Tyla to be denied entry, citing the previous visa denial involving Ayra Starr.

Speaking to Punch, Moroe said Ayra Starr’s visa application was rejected because she submitted an inappropriate yellow fever certificate.

He clarified that the incident occurred in February 2024 and was not a recent development.

According to the envoy, the issue resurfaced after reports claimed that Starr and members of her team had been denied visas to South Africa. He said the South African mission subsequently engaged with the singer’s team to explain the requirements that needed to be fulfilled.

Moroe stressed that the visa denial had nothing to do with Starr’s status, nationality or personality, but was based strictly on failure to meet the country’s visa requirements.

“One of the challenges was that they did not submit an appropriate yellow fever certificate. They submitted the yellow fever certificate of another country when they were supposed to submit the yellow fever certificate of their home country,” he said.

He added that the matter was later resolved amicably, with Starr and her team eventually granted one-year visas to perform in South Africa in 2024.

Moroe said the incident should not be used to create division between Nigerians and South Africans.

“If you meet the requirement for a visa, whether you are a star or not, tall, short, black or white, if you qualify, you will get it. But if you don’t, regardless of who you are, the immigration section will uphold the immigration law of the country,” he said.

South Africa explains why Ayra Starr was initially denied visa

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