New South African Government legislation for passengers with children and unaccompanied minors will impact travellers, warns South African Airways (SAA).
The airline is advising its travel partners and their customers that both parents and guardians traveling with children and unaccompanied minors traveling alone or in groups will need to have the correct documentation or will be denied boarding.
Those travelling into and from South Africa with a child under 18 will be required to produce an original or certified copy of a child’s birth certificate which details both parents. Parents or guardians travelling by themselves with children will also need an affidavit less than three months old that has been sworn by a notary public that gives permission to travel with the child or children.
Changes come into effect from 1 October 2014, so relevant passengers on flight SA281 on 30 September from Perth to Johannesburg will be impacted.
“Earlier this year the South African Government passed legislation that requires additional documentation to be provided when a parent or guardian is traveling with children under 18 or when unaccompanied children travel,” SAA’s country manager for Australasia, Tim Clyde-Smith said this week.
The rules do not apply for passengers just transiting in South Africa.
“SAA is communicating with the travel industry and our other partners to allow affected customers to make the necessary preparations. We are working with the South African High Commission and South African Tourism to ensure people are fully aware of and prepared for the changes from 1 October,” Clyde-Smith concluded.
