NAIROBI\u2014 President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Kenyans will now be able to enter South Africa visa free for a period of 90 days.<\/p>\n
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The President made the announcement during an Official State Visit to the country on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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During the visit several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements were signed between the two countries.<\/p>\n
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Ramaphosa said an agreement was reached on the \u201cthorny issue\u201d during talks.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe agreed that indeed Kenyans should be able to visit South Africa without requiring them to have visas\u2026 this dispensation will commence on the 1st of January 2023 and that our officials will speed up the processes of putting it into effect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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The President explained that the new dispensation will be available to Kenyans for a 90-day period in a year. Meaning, Kenyans can use the visa free entry for 90 days in a year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe will be able to review this and get reports from our ministers within the year and see how this is functioning.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis will also be underpinned by other processes that we have agreed should take place. [That is] close monitoring of the implementation of this process and also be able to have a return policy of those\u2026elements that would be undesirable to be able to be returned to Kenya,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Ramaphosa said the move will strengthen the relationship between the two countries.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMore importantly [the agreement strengthens] the people to people contact. Kenyans and South Africans have multiplicities of relations both business, social, communal and at relative level. They want to be able to travel and tourism between our two countries will be greatly enhanced through this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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During talks, the two countries also signed agreements and Memoranda of Understanding in the areas of correctional and prison services, housing and human settlements, arts and culture and schools of government.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe are committed to ensure that the agreements and Memoranda of Understanding that we have signed now and in the past will be implemented fully,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Ramaphosa described the Official State Visit to Kenya as \u201cproductive and constructive\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis visit has once again reaffirmed that our bilateral relations are based on a sound foundation of mutual respect, shared values, friendship and democracy. These principles will undoubtedly continue to serve us in the future, especially in times of global uncertainty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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President Ramaphosa said discussions were held to take stock of the state of bilateral relations between the two countries while exploring other areas of \u201cmutual interest and possible cooperation\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe recognise that the wonderful foundation that exists between our two countries gives rise to enormous opportunities that our two countries should capitalise on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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The President reflected that the two countries face similar challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSince 2020, South Africa has been implementing an Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to lift our economy out of a prolonged period of slow growth, to create jobs and to undertake far-reaching economic reform.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis is not dissimilar to Kenya\u2019s Recovery Plan, with its six core pillars of agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprise, housing and settlement, health care, the digital superhighway and creative economy, and the environment and climate change.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere are definitely opportunities for South Africa and Kenya to share experiences and good practice in the implementation of these two economic plans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NAIROBI\u2014 President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Kenyans will now be able to enter South Africa visa free for a period of 90 days. The President made the announcement during an Official State Visit to the country on Wednesday. During the visit several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements were signed between the two … <\/p>\n