TIGblogs - editorkay

The Director-General,
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Republic of South Africa.

Attention: Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba

Sir,
Embassy's Visa Process in Lagos, Nigeria undermines genuine
application, please help to redress.

I have often dismissed many accusations against foreign missions in
Nigeria due to the desperation that has grown wild in most Nigerians
in their effort to seek greener pasture with every available
opportunity. Though I have reacted to some genuine ones by urging
those involved to report appropriately to appropriate quarters. It was
until I had a similar experience that I decided to write to report my
disgust at the situation.

The picture I can vividly paint of the South African Embassy in Lagos,
Nigeria is a clear case of an eyesore. I had been invited to attend
the World Association of Christian Communication Congress scheduled to
hold between the 4th and the 10th of October 2008
in Cape town, South Africa. The organization was to be responsible for
my airfare, transportation around the city, feeding and accommodation.
Please find attached a copy of the said invitation letter sent to me
which clearly affirms my claim.

I had visited the embassy on a Thursday to submit my documents for
ratification by the consular as it is the practice and was expected to
come back for an appointment date on a Monday evening at 4pm to pick
up my appointment date. It is worthy to note that I started processing
my visa a month and two weeks before my scheduled trip. The atmosphere
I met at the embassy like I said earlier was that of a clear case of
an eyesore. Touts have now become thin gods at the embassy, leaving
genuine travelers at their mercy. The Policemen and security agents at
the gate have also made matters worse as they have become accomplices
to the operations of touts. My first frustration came when I returned
to the embassy on the following Monday to retrieve my document and
find out what date I was scheduled for, for my interview. I had
received my document with a little note scribbled on it stating that I
should produce another invitation other than the invitation letter
sent to me by the organization and that I should give three contact
details of the organizers coupled with a phone number of the hotel in
which the event will be taking place.

I had contacted the organizers and had stated the embassy's queries.
In their response, Tim Meadley a representative of the organizers had
told me that the only invitation letter that was agreed upon in the
arrangement made with the South African Government was the one I was
earlier given. He further sent me a mail and asked me to print it and
attach it to my document. The mail was meant to explain the
arrangement agreed upon. You will find the content of the mail below
my letter.

With the content of Tim Meadley's mail, I represented my documents and
waited for another Monday for the embassy's response but I was yet
again to be disappointed. On the second occasion, my application was
returned with the same queries as though the content of Mr. Meadley's
letter was not read. I was unable to access any member of the
consulate to explain my case since the consulate's building is
designed in a way by which you are only allowed to speak with security
officials who carry out directive without discretion. I had retrieved
the e-mail address of the consular and the phone number from the South
African Government website. Sending a mail to the consulate office in
Lagos proved abortive as the mail could not be delivered, so I decided
to call. I had called all the numbers repeatedly but there was no
response. Even when someone finally responded, the response was not
helpful as the person from the other side of the receiver directed me
to call another line which kept ringing without an answer.

While discussing my frustration to a guy who I later discovered was a
tout, he had offered me to take me in without any hassles with the
security operatives but at a cost of ten thousand naira. I remember
asking me how sure he was about the deal, and he gave me a 90%
assurance. I took his phone number hoping to consider his offer as I
was already getting frustrated. He had also convinced me that I would
continue to go through the process of getting the consular's approval
of my invitation letter for the next four week if I do not yield to
his proposal as it is the practice at the consulate, according to him
(I can provide details of the tout's phone number on demand, at least
to prove my claim).

I had gone home, considered the offer and decided against it. I put a
call through to Mr. Meadley again, this time he offered a new
invitation letter which was signed by a DM Wanless (with ID number
4111135087089). Please find attached a copy of the said letter. Mr.
Meadley had on this occasion had stated that although the organizers
were able to assist, they were not supposed to attend to individual
needs and that I should not expect any more individual assistance.

Finally, I submitted on the 11th of September 2008 and I was able to
secure an interview date on the 18th of September 2008. On the 18th
which was the next Thursday, I was shocked to find out that there was
actually no interview except for a payment procedure which took
forever. I remember that I had, had to stand for several minutes to
await my receipt which was to state the date which I was to retrieve
my visa from the consulate. When I received my receipt, I was
convinced that the person who handled my visa application did not take
enough time to assess my document as I was asked to pick my visa on
the 9th of October 2008 (as stated on the receipt) when the event I
was going to attend would have almost ended.

I was totally disappointed but yet, I was unable to access any member
of the consulate to speak with. I went back there the next day hoping
to get someone to speak with. I got to the embassy early enough to see
a member of the consulate address intending travelers. I had being
fortunate to speak with a female member of the consulate who attended
to my situation. After listening to my case, she simply struck out the
9th of October 2008 collection date and replaced it with the 3rd of
October 2008 after she saw a copy of my travel schedule which I had
attached to my application. Please find attached a copy of the travel
schedule. I came back on the 3rd of October 2008 to retrieve my Visa
but I was told that the system at the consulate was down and thus,
Visas could not be collected on that date even when it was evident
that some individuals (obviously high powered individuals) were able
to retrieve theirs.

I left the consulate at about 4pm disappointed and with all efforts in
vain. I came back on Monday, and Tuesday but was only able to retrieve
my visa on the 8th of October 2008, a date to late to embark on the
trip has my travel booking had already being cancelled according to
the organizers. Even when I went to retrieve the my visa finally, the
lady who handed me my passport accused me of forgery of the date on my
receipt; a date which reassigned to me by a female member of the
consulate who I could vividly describe as an elderly woman in glasses
and I presume she will be in her late 40s or early 50s. She is
chocolate in complexion and had a height of about 5.5".

The most annoying part of the entire scenario was the fact that my
visa had been issued on the 22nd of September 2008 and a condition was
placed on the visa. The condition stated that I was to be admitted 30
days to attend WACC Congress in Cape Town, must hold Onward/Return
ticket; a condition that totally renders the visa useless leaving all
my efforts to lie in futility.

For a benefit of doubt, my name is Ajayi-Smith Olukayode Paul with
passport number A2399443. My receipt number 1074781 and my Visa
reference number is SZRLBQE.
I am development practitioner, a Youth Action Ambassador of the Young
People We Care (www.ypwc.org), and a Member of the Editorial team of
the Development Report Magazine (www.developmentreport.org). I have
proven integrity and service to humanity, traits which the World
Association of Christian Communication identified to have invited me
for their event and offered me the luxury of attending the yearly
congress. I was the only Nigerian delegate at the first ever Civicus
Youth Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 days in May 2007 and I
attended and returned back to my country. I am one of the very few
young Nigerians who believe in the strict compliance of the rule of
law though it is not that enforced in the country but yet, I observe
the laws. I am an advocate of the principle "work locally and think
globally".

My experience at the Visa section of the Republic of South Africa in
Lagos has made me lose confidence in the Visa process and I have thus
decided not to embark on such a futile effort again in my life.
Although, from my assessment of the consulate, I noticed that there
are very few staffs handling a huge number of applications but that
was not enough for genuine applicants to be treated like dirt.
If you do doubt my claims, you can investigate and I will be glad to
provide more details.
I trust you will use your good office to redeem our confidence in your
visa process as the current process undermines the application of
genuine travelers.
I look forward to you action on this issue.

Best Regards,
'Kayode Ajayi-Smith,
Member, Editorial Team,
Development Report Magazine,
www.developmentreport.org

Youth Action Ambassador,
Young People We Care,
www.ypwc.org
+2348055316398, 07025813561
Young People We Care (YPWC) is a registered youth-led and
youth-focused, non-profit organization that is headquartered in Ghana
and has satellite offices in the UK, Canada and USA. The organization
is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on
youth and development related issues worldwide. At YPWC, we are
passionate about sustainable development, the realization of the
Millennium Development Goals and the promotion of a culture of peace
and universal human rights for all. Visit us at: www.ypwc.org

Tim Meadley's E-mail to me

im Meadley hide details 29 Aug
to editorkay@gmail.com
date 29 Aug 2008 19:17
subject WACC Congress 2008 - Reference Number: c9f
Olukayode Ajayi-Smith

Further to our telephone conversation, which was interrupted.

WACC's representative in Cape Town has received a letter from the Home
Affairs Department of the Republic of South Africa indicating that the
Department would advise South African Missions abroad to issue visas to
delegates attending the Congress provided they were in possession of an
invitation letter. The letter is signed by F M Birkenback on behalf of
the Deputy Director General (IMS). The reference on the letter is
19/5/5/2/1912 (VS6).

Providing this information, together with the invitation letter that we
have already sent to you, should be sufficient to obtain the necessary
visa. If after communicating this to the embassy the problem remains,
please let me know and I will pass the information to our representative
in Cape Town who is in contact with the Home Affairs Department.
Alternatively, the embassy can contact me for clarification.

TiM

Tim Meadley, Manager of Administration
World Association for Christian Communication
308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7, Canada
Tel: +1 416-691-1999 Fax: +1 416-691-1997
E-mail: TM@waccglobal.org
--------------------------------------------------------

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The World Association for Christian Communication is a UK Registered
Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in England and Wales
(number 2082273) with its Registered Office at 36 Causton Street,
London SW1P 4ST. It is an incorporated Charitable Organisation in
Canada (number 83970 9524 RR0001) with its offices at 308 Main Street,
Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.