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Weekly Travel News Recap, 26 April: ACSA mandates physical searches of all persons wearing head coverings, petrol station hijackings on the rise, and more

Catch up on all the latest travel news with Drive South Africa.

Each week, our team scours the web for the most interesting, trending, and unusual travel news, conservation news, and motoring news stories. Here are this week’s biggest scoops.

Travel News

An aeroplane landing at an airport.

An aeroplane lands in Paris, France

 

 

  • Namibia introduces visas-on-arrival at Walvis Bay HarbourThe country’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism called for more efficient immigration processes for cruise ships after the Queen Mary II brought more than 1,000 passengers to Walvis Bay this month, many of whom struggled with long waiting times. The new visa system is now in effect, eliminating the need for prior visa applications.

 

  • ACSA mandates physical searches of all persons wearing head coveringsThe Airports Company of South Africa says all passengers wearing “fixed headgear, headwraps, hijabs, burkas, doeks, izicholo, or niqabs” will be required to undergo physical searches at airport security gates. It adds that the searches “will be conducted with due sensitivity to recognised religious and cultural practices” and acknowledges that they “may cause discomfort”.

 

 

Conservation News

An adult cheetah running alongside a cheetah cub.

A mother cheetah and one of her cubs

 

 

Automotive News

The Kia Tasman bakkie / ute inside an Australian barn.

The camouflaged Kia Tasman

  • Kia releases first comouflage images of upcoming Tasman bakkie. The South Korean manufacturer has revealed a custom camouflage wrap for its upcoming Tasman bakkie, set to be launched in South Africa at some point in the near future. The camouflage conceals the final design of the vehicle ahead of official launch and was designed by artist Richard Boyd-Dunlop.

 

  • South African motorists urged to stay alert as petrol station hijackings increaseAccording to Louis Nyahunda, senior research fellow at the Tshwane University of Technology Department of Law, Safety, and Security Management, there has been a substantial increase in petrol station-related crimes in South Africa.  Speaking to SABC News, he added that many petrol stations lack adequate security measures.

 

  • Jaecoo J7 SUV lands in South AfricaSouth Africa is the first right-hand drive market for the Chinese vehicle, with pricing starting at R549,900. It features a turbocharged 1.6 l petrol engine that produces 145 kW of power and 290 Nm of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

 

  • Fiat set to launch two electric models in South Africa this yearStellantis has confirmed that it will introduce the electric versions of the Fiat 500 and Abarth 500 in South Africa later this year. The Fiat 500 might become one of the cheapest EVs available, while the Abarth will feature a more powerful motor with 113 kW of power and 235 Nm of torque.

Missed out on this week’s Drive South Africa blogs? Catch up on them here.

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Travel News Image Credits: Unsplash, Kia

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