South African Government Denies Reports That Ayra Starr and Her Team Were Refused Visas

The South African government has dismissed reports claiming Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied entry visas, insisting that it has no record of any such application or refusal.

The clarification comes amid growing tensions between Nigeria and South Africa following renewed outrage over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, as well as the recent controversy surrounding South African singer Tyla’s cancelled Lagos concert.

Responding to the claims, South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said the country’s authorities have not found any evidence that Ayra Starr or her team applied for visas that were subsequently rejected. According to him, anyone making the allegation should provide the names of the affected applicants and their visa reference numbers so the government can investigate the matter.

The visa controversy dates back to February 2024, when the organisers of Ayra Starr’s planned concerts in Johannesburg and Cape Town announced that the shows had been cancelled, alleging that the singer and her team were unable to secure South African visas despite repeated efforts.

The incident resurfaced in recent days after several Nigerian public figures cited Ayra Starr’s alleged visa denial while calling for stricter measures against South African artistes seeking to perform in Nigeria. Some even urged the Nigerian government to adopt a reciprocal visa policy, arguing that South African entertainers should face similar treatment if Nigerian artistes continue to encounter visa challenges.

However, South African officials have now challenged those claims, maintaining that there is no official record of a visa refusal involving the “Rush” singer and requesting documentary proof before accepting the allegations as fact.

The development has sparked fresh debate across social media. While some Nigerians remain convinced that Ayra Starr and her team were unfairly treated, others believe the South African government’s response raises new questions about what really happened behind the scenes.

Neither Ayra Starr nor her management has publicly responded to the South African government’s latest statement.

As diplomatic tensions and conversations around xenophobia continue to dominate headlines, the visa controversy has become another talking point in the ongoing debate over the relationship between Africa’s two biggest entertainment industries.