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Cape Town – The new child visa regulations were making it difficult for entrepreneurs to succeed in South Africa, according to wealth coach JT Foxx.
“Make it difficult for people to travel and they’re just going to go somewhere else,” he told Fin24 in a studio interview.
Foxx, who has business interests in 31 countries including China, said they would be quick to stop travelling to South Africa “to avoid the aggravation”.
WATCH: How visa regulations are throttling small business
There was a 38% drop in tourism from China to South Africa, according to the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The main reason is the new visa regulations, which require all potential tourists to report to either Beijing or Shanghai to apply in person for visas,” said Janine Myburgh, president of the Chamber.
READ: SA causes drop in Chinese tourists - chamber
President Jacob Zuma announced on Tuesday the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee on immigration regulations. “It will look at consequences of the new immigration regulations,” he said.
“The committee is chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and comprises ministers of tourism, home affairs, DTI, social development and small business development,” he said. “We identified small business as big business at the State of the Nation address.”
Foxx told Fin24 that the regulations were adding to a plethora of obstacles in the country.
“How is GDP supposed to grow,” he asked. “Mining is stalling, there are a lot of strikes, tourism – for which it is known for around the world – you’re stalling that, so where’s (the growth) going to come (from)?”
Foxx said South Africans should, however, look beyond the government’s mistakes and realise how many amazing opportunities existed within the country. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to create your own economy.”
