South Africa’s tourism minister has admitted the country is in “chaos” over its World Cup visa system. The crisis threatens to derail the 2023 showpiece, but the UK has stepped in with expertise to fix the mess. For the working class in Mzansi, this is not just about football. It is about the price of bread.
The minister’s admission came after months of complaints from fans, players and officials. Long queues, lost passports and arbitrary decisions have turned the visa process into a nightmare. The UK’s offer of technical assistance is welcome, but it exposes a deeper problem: a failing state infrastructure that hits the poorest hardest.
When visas are delayed, small businesses lose. Street vendors who sell match-day memorabilia, taxi drivers ferrying fans to stadiums, and domestic workers who clean the hotels all suffer. Their wages do not stretch when tourism dollars dry up. And yet, the government fiddles while the World Cup burns.
The union movement here is watching closely. The Congress of South African Trade Unions has already warned that the chaos could lead to job losses. “Our members are already struggling with high food prices and load shedding. This is another blow,” said a spokesperson.
The UK’s help is no silver bullet. It is a sticking plaster. The real solution lies in proper funding for the home affairs department and a government that puts people before profit. Until then, the World Cup will be a lost opportunity for the millions who need it most.
