Prof Bobby Moroe reveals the real cause of the visa dispute amid online tension
South African Consul General Prof Bobby Moroe confirmed that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr was denied a visa in February 2024 for submitting a wrong yellow fever certificate. Officials quickly resolved the issue and issued her a one year visa, dismissing recent online rumours linked to xenophobic tensions.
The South African government has finally fixed a major online fight. Officials explained why immigration denied a visa for Nigerian music star Ayra Starr.
Fans recently dragged the issue back into the spotlight online. Some Nigerians asked for a ban on Grammy winning singer Tyla. They wanted to block her from performing in Nigeria as payback.
The public anger forced the South African embassy to step in. On August 8, 2026, Consul General Prof Bobby Moroe gave the facts.
The yellow fever certificate error
Moroe stated that officials denied the visa back in February 2024. The singer and her team missed the main rules. Their Nigerian status played no role in the final choice.
”I do not see the relevance of that rejection to the development of today, except for using that rejection to sow division,” Prof Moroe said.
”One of the challenges was that they did not submit an appropriate yellow fever certificate,” the envoy explained. “They submitted the yellow fever certificate of another country when they were supposed to submit the yellow fever certificate of their home country.”
The embassy simply followed standard rules to protect their borders. The anger began after South Africans asked other Africans to leave their country. Tyla then announced her tour dates in Nigeria shortly after.
A quick and quiet fix
Angry fans used the old visa denial to attack Tyla. They ignored the fact that the singer eventually got her papers.
Mavin Records star Ayra Starr remains a top voice in Africa. Her team quickly fixed the simple paperwork mistake. The quick fix allowed her to finish her planned shows.
”Subsequently, the matter was resolved amicably and they were granted a one-year visa to go and perform in South Africa in 2024, and I think that was what they forgot to mention,” he noted.
”If you meet the requirement for a visa, whether you are a star or not, tall, short, black or white, if you qualify, you will get it,” the diplomat stated. “But if you don’t, regardless of who you are, the immigration section will uphold the immigration law of the country.”
