South Sudan rebel leader’s wife deported from Johannesburg

June 14, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Angelina Teny, wife of the South Sudanese rebel leader, Riek Machar, was reportedly deported from Johannesburg, South Africa, back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday by South African authorities who denied her entry visa at Oliver Reginald Tambo International Airport.

In a statement distributed to the media and social networking groups by a journalist working in the office of president Salva Kiir, the first lady of the opposition leader was held for over 24 hours in the country before putting her back to the plane to Addis Ababa.

“Madam Angelina Teny was deported on Friday, June 12, 2015 from Oliver Reginald Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa,” revealed Larco Lomoyat, a photo journalist, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

“Angelina who was accompanying her husband Dr. Riek Machar for medical checkup in South Africa arrived from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 1:00am on Thursday was detained for over 24 hours at the airport and was deported back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the following day on Friday afternoon together with her bodyguard Gabriel Kuok Dang,” he further explained.

He said she was deported because she previously overstayed in South Africa beyond legal duration provided in the visa, which, he added, the new immigration law did not allow for new visa.

Lomoyat said according to South African new immigration law, “if a visitor overstayed, she or he will be declared non-desirable; and therefore when he or she visits South Africa again, he or she will be deported and banned for five years not to visit South Africa.”

South Sudanese rebel leader’s spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, confirmed that the wife of the opposition leader was denied entry visa on arrival per the new immigration law, but said elements in the media reports about what transpired were “exaggerated and misleading.”

“Well, Madam Agelina couldn’t get entry visa on arrival because the new South African immigration law necessitated that the application for entry visa would first be processed before arrival,” Dak told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

“It was a matter of shortfalls in the arrangements. Elements in media reports are exaggerated and misleading,” he said.

He also said she was not deported back to Addis Ababa as alleged but decided to transit to London, in the United Kingdom, to visit her family, adding she will then return to Addis Ababa after the visit to London to participate in the peace talks.

Dak also dismissed as propaganda the allegation that the rebel leader travelled to South Africa for purposes of medical check-up, saying the mission was in response to invitation extended to him to participate in the African Union summit.

He earlier said the opposition leader, who was also accompanied by the deputy chairman for national committee for foreign affairs relations, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, met with a number of world leaders in Johannesburg.

South African president, Jacob Zuma, and the minister of home affairs, Naledi Pandor, signed off on new immigration regulation on Friday, 16 May 2015 in a move that marks the first time since 2004 that the law has been adjusted.

The changes officially came into effect on Monday, 26 May 2015, and the amendments to the act impact foreigners looking to visit, study, work, live and own a business in South Africa.

South Africa’s new immigration rules aim to balance the need for better security with the contribution migration makes to economic development and prosperity.

(ST)