Winde to intensify fight against cruise liner ban at Waterfront

At a meeting attended by officials from the Home Affairs Immigration office, National Intelligence Agency, Transnet Ports Authority and the Western Cape Government, it was restated by top immigration officials that cruise liners below 200m would not be permitted to dock at Jetty Two of the V&A Waterfront due to security concerns.

In response, MEC Alan Winde, has stated that he is determined to see the decision reversed and plans to take the matter up with the National Minister of Home Affairs, NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma.
 
“For 20 years, security and immigration procedures have been managed without incident at Jetty Two of the V&A Waterfront, and the sudden about-turn by Home Affairs, with no permanent facility yet established in the main harbour and no firm plans to build one in place, is not in the interests of international passengers visiting the destination or of our tourism industry,” said Winde. “It is also not in the interests of the new owners of the V&A Waterfront, the Public Investment Corporation, an entity that manages public sector funds.
“There are two clear alternatives: cruise liner passengers can arrive safely, proceed through immigration and disembark at one of the country’s foremost tourist locations, as they have done for decades without contravening immigration laws, or they can arrive amongst the containers at the cold storage yard of the Cape Town port,” said Winde.