S. Africa sets rules for visas

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 8

S. Africa sets rules for visas

PA Wellington Journalists planning to accompany the All Black tour of South Africa will ' have to specify the subjects they intend to cover when: making visa applications, p The director ofc: the visa section, of South:; Africa’s Department of' Home Affairs, Mr Andrew Barton, said that if a journalist applied to cover the tour, that purpose would be endorsed on his visa, Radio New Zealand reported yesterday. ■-S .« Mr Barton said it would be a breach of the condi- .? tidns of a journalist’s permit if he reported on other subjects such as political events. But provided those other subjects were included in the application, they would be considered, he said. Numerous foreign journal-

ists had been allowed in on that basis. If a journalist was allowed in to cover the tour and then decided he wanted to cover unrelated subjects as well, he would have to approach the department for permission. ? i But if the journalist covered other topics without permission, the department probably would not know about it before he left South Africa. Mr Barton; said he had not yet received any .applications and so he could not say which ones were likely to be approved or what topics they would be allowed to cover. The Broadcasting Corporation announced earlier this week that it was applying to send three journalists to South Africa in addition to sports commentators.