Ramaphosa told a media briefing at the union Buildings that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had told him prospective Chinese visitors were being kept away by the South Africa’s visa architecture.

It reliably estimated that South African visa restrictions have cost the country half a billion dollars in lost tourism and business visits.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he can’t confirm this figure although he acknowledges substantial losses caused by the visa regime.

He says changes to the requirement for children to have unabridged births certificates will be announced in coming weeks among measures welcoming highly skilled people and potential investors  to South Africa.

He says a pilot electronic visa mechanism will also be implemented. 

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The presidency’s statement say Castro not only identified with the struggle against apartheid, but also inspired the Cuban people to join South Africans in that struggle.

President Jacob Zuma has sent his condolences to the government and people of Cuba following Fidel Castro’s passing last Friday.

He’s ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all stations in South Africa today and on the date of Castro’s funeral.

Condolence books have been placed at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Tuynhuys in Cape Town and at the offices of the Premiers throughout the country.

Zuma’s office spoke of the strong bond of solidarity and friendship formed between Presidents Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro.

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South Africa’s rolling out the red carpet at the Union Buildings and firing a 21-gun salute for Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe starting his state visit today.

The current African Union and SADC chairman is officially here to boost bilateral relations. But seeking trade for his cash strapped country is top of his agenda.

The 91 year old Zimbabwean president is a frequent visitor to his southern neighbour which is one of the few countries that leaves the welcome mat out for him.

But Robert Mugabe was 70 when has was last honoured with a state visit here.

That was before he fell out with then president Nelson Mandela and presided over land grabs and stolen elections that made him a more problematic friend.

Today he’ll sign an agreement on improving bilateral trade. Zimbabwe annually buys about R21-billion worth of goods from South Africa but sends less than R2-billion worth back across the Limpopo.

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