“SOUTH Africa must be closed to tourists until we have our house in order!" This is the sentiment of controversial social commentator, Nota Nhlamulo Baloyi.
Baloyi’s comments came as immigration into the country has been a hot topic on social media platform X.
It also comes after police in Durban arrested close to 120 undocumented immigrants during raids in Mahatma Gandhi Road at the start of the week, the controversy surrounding Miss South Africa and Miss Nigeria Universe contestant Chidimma Adetshina and the South African Department of Home Affairs’ alleging fraudulent activity in the acquisition of her citizenship, the online war between South Africans and Nigerians using Bolt and online patriots calling for illegal immigrants in the country to be deported.
Why must everything in South Africa be about attracting tourists? Maybe an immigration ban isn’t enough, South Africa must be closed to tourists until we have our house in order!
— MORAL Authority (@lavidaNOTA) August 28, 2024
Weighing in on the country’s balancing tourism and immigration, Baloyi said: “Why must everything in South Africa be about attracting tourists? Maybe an immigration ban isn’t enough, South Africa must be closed to tourists until we have our house in order!”
X users pointed out that ending tourism activities was not a solution as the industry contributed to the country’s fiscus.
And what happens to the 1.46 million people that are employed by the tourism sector in the meantime my brother?
— Siphiwe Nodwele (@SiphiweNodwele) August 28, 2024
Responding to Baloyi, @SiphiweNodwele, said: “And what happens to the 1.46 million people that are employed by the tourism sector in the meantime my brother?”
In response to Nodwele, Baloyi said that local tourism and international business travel will ensure they can still get an income.
“I’d rather we fix our country than have people come here to take pictures of our suffering citizens from buses. Our poverty has become a tourist attraction because we prioritise travellers,” added Baloyi.
Think about what happened to the tourism sector during lockdown before uttering that nonsense pic.twitter.com/Oa5jHOkxDV
Another user, @Y_Pirrie, highlighted that Baloyi’s sentiments were not well-considered following the fact that the industry nearly collapsed during the COVID pandemic.
“Think about what happened to the tourism sector during lockdown before uttering that nonsense.”
We don't need to shut down the entire country to get rid of pit toilets in public schools.
Another user, @Thuso1Africa, highlighted that closing off the country to tourism would still not solve the country’s social issues:
“We don't need to shut down the entire country to get rid of pit toilets in public schools.”
You smoke too much.. You'll collapse this ailing economy, do you even know what ramifications of your suggestion?😏
Whilst @201043202 said: “You smoke too much.. You'll collapse this ailing economy, do you even know what ramifications of your suggestion?😏.”