The South African government has refuted reports claiming that Nigerian music star Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied visas to enter the country.
Speaking in an interview, South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said immigration authorities have no record of any visa application or rejection involving the singer or her entourage.
According to Moroe, officials are willing to investigate the matter if those making the allegations provide the necessary details, including the names of the affected individuals and their visa application reference numbers.
He said, “The immigration said they were not aware of the application or the rejection. What will assist us is if the people who are making these allegations send us the names and reference numbers of Ayra Starr and her team. If they were rejected, we will be able to establish why they were rejected and double-check the claims.”
The controversy has reignited discussions about how Nigerian and South African entertainers are treated when travelling between both countries. Some stakeholders have called on the Nigerian government to adopt a reciprocal approach to visa processing if it is confirmed that Nigerian artistes face unfair treatment.
Adding to the debate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, urged the Federal Government to review visa applications submitted by South African entertainers and their teams. Speaking on Thursday, July 29, she said Nigeria should consider taking equivalent measures if investigations confirm that Ayra Starr and her team were denied entry visas.
Reports had earlier claimed that the singer and members of her crew were refused South African visas in February 2024, forcing them to miss scheduled performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
As of the time of this report, Ayra Starr has not publicly responded to the South African government’s request for evidence supporting the visa denial claims.
