South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom is hopeful the requirement that minors travel with an unabridged birth certificate will be scrapped from new immigration amendments.

In September, the Department of Home Affairs published the draft amendment to the regulations for comment.

The draft amendments states that a parent or parents “may be required” to produce it and that an official may refuse a child admission or departure from the Republic on the basis of not producing the unabridged birth certificates.

Hanekom told the Business Day that while the requirement was not abolished in the draft amendments he is hopeful it will be scrapped in the final draft.

Last month, Satsa CEO, David Frost, said the association would make a submission with the TBCSA calling for the requirement to be scrapped. He said the requirement is not necessary, emphasising that a valid visa and passport, which is what is required by the rest of the world, should be adequate documentation for travel.