All South African’s now under Suspicion

Last week I returned from a business trip in Europe and as a Green Card holding South African (the opportunity to apply for US citizenship comes up for me next year), I normally have no issues passing through Customs.

This time however, the Customs’ Agent asked me to “come this way” and led me into a waiting room. I immediately wondered what the problem could be and whether there would be a full cavity search involved.

I was quickly called up to the front of the room where another agent asked me if I had had my passport for long. I answered that I had. She asked the question again. Once again I answered that I had indeed had my passport for a while.

The agent then informed me that I would be stopped very often, if not always, from now onwards. Very surprised by this statement, I asked her why. She then dropped the bomb shell. She told me that recently, 10,000 South African passports had been stolen!

She stamped and signed my passport and I walked out of the room feeling slightly embarrassed because of the looks I received from people.

When I arrived home, I Googled the subject of stolen South African passports and found a few news articles on the matter. Apparently, someone has been selling real South African passports (not forged) at US$77 per passport to al Qaeda members and other people.

TYPICAL! Corruption within the South African government. Yet another example of it, but this time an example that affects any South African traveling on trains and planes between countries anywhere in the world. Now, any passport carrying South African is a suspected terrorist.

This sad fact made me cast my mind back to the flight I had just stepped off. Throughout the entire flight, all of the crew members kept looking over at my seat. I kept telling myself that I was imagining it and what reason would they have to “keep an eye on me”.

When I went through Customs it all made sense.
Obviously I was flagged at my port of departure and the crew was treating me as a potential terrorist. I noticed them continually looking at me. Anytime the cockpit door opened, a crew member would “stand guard” outside and look at me.

Unbelievable isn’t it!? I am the most unlikely person on the planet to ever be involved in terrorism. I don’t have a weak mind that can be influenced by religious and other ridiculous ideals. I think for myself, but here I was being seen as a potential threat.

So, now I have even more yearning to give up my South African passport and get my US Citizenship and passport. Not only do I ALWAYS have to stand in pathetically long lines at embassies and consulates to apply for visas anytime I travel while my American colleges just sail in and out of any country on the planet, but now I will be stopped at every passport control point and be watched on every flight I take.