Lance for Life

Lance refused entry into SA

2010-03-08 23:31

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Lance Armstrong (AFP)

Kobus Pretorius

Cape Town - Legendary American cyclist Lance Armstrong's first visit to Cape Town started off on a sour note on Monday night because of bureaucratic red tape.

On Monday at about 21:00 Armstrong wrote on Twitter that he'd landed at the Cape Town International Airport but was refused entry to the country because his passport was full.

It's Armstrong's first visit to the Mother City. He will be taking part in the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay cycle tour on Sunday.

"Well, made it to Cape Town but can't get in the country since my passport is full and there's no room to stamp it. So...stuck," he tweeted.

Fortunately a short while later, Armstrong tweeted that he had finally been allowed to enter South Africa.

"Well, made it in to SA. Not the friendliest welcome I've ever received but we've all seen immigration officers like that."

Siobhan McCarthy, chief director of communication at home affairs, said visitors travelling to South Africa need to have at least two blank pages in their passport in order to be allowed entry to the country.

"Airlines are supposed to check people's passports before they leave for another country."

When asked what would happen if a person didn't have the required blank pages in their passport, McCarthy said that person would be refused entry to the country and would have to return to the country they came from.

She couldn't comment on Armstrong's case and said the procedure for celebrities entering the country might be different.

Participants in the cycle tour can look forward to significantly cooler weather than has been experienced lately. However, a temperature of 28° C and a south-easterly wind of 45 knots have been predicted.

Should conditions become truly dangerous, the tour will be stopped, said David Bellairs, co-director of the Cape Cycle Tour Trust.

"Although there will be more resources on standby such as water, cooldrink and ice, the number of water points - 17 - will remain the same."

Your Comments

Icewoman3/13/2010 4:06 PM: aaaah well no fine ... may he have the wind at his back /face ... the south easter will sort the boys from the men ... what excuse is he gonna come up with then?

Jaco3/12/2010 9:25 AM: Why do the state officials only do their job when they don't really have to... what about all the illegal Zim, Nigerian, Mozams, etc. that's in the country. 75% of drug trade in SA is run by nigerians... wonder if they have two open pages in their passport. This country reminds me of a circus sometimes we just need the freakin tent!

Rainman3/11/2010 12:05 PM: @shawn say what you want...attack the man's character, true or not...u may hate his nationality...but he is one of the best riders out there...off the bike he is just a man...on the bike he is a legend...respect the sportsman

full bred capetonian3/11/2010 11:49 AM: I had a good laugh at 'skud net my kop' You are so right!! The poor fat Americans think America is the whole world!! Look at their previous president!! Americans can teach us 2 things 1) How to become morbidly obese and 2) how to be arrogant Feel sorry for them. they are a stupid nation!

Shawn3/10/2010 2:33 PM: I can't believe they let this arrogant American in; what makes hims so special. America would have sent me packing back. I hope Contador shows him how to ride again in the TDF. What a joke.

Zee3/10/2010 2:28 PM: Have you been through an application process to get a visda for the U.S.? Makes this look like childsplay!

ruezy3/9/2010 2:46 PM: couldn't care less...wont add a cent to my wallet....

Madiba3/9/2010 2:16 PM: @Peace Lance Armstrong is not Madiba and I suspect Madiba took the right documentation whereever her went

Peace3/9/2010 1:39 PM: Wow. What an angry bunch South Africans are. We all make mistakes, and I think if Madiba went anywhere in the world, not matter what paper work he had, he would be given a warm welcome. Lance is not on the same level, but he is also doing good work, for people who need it. Stop all the hating, it's not good for you. Live and let live.

kapenaar3/9/2010 1:07 PM: lancearmstrong: Done w/ a nice 3hr ride. I've heard many times before that Cape Town is stunning. That was no lie. What a place. 09 March 2010 12:25:58 PM Armstrong's last tweet so now we can let him be

@Albert Einstein3/9/2010 1:01 PM: @Albert Einstein Not sure what green planet you emerged from, but you need to take a wash, because you smell of poo. Tell me which country would you expect to enter without proper documentation, dimwit

skud-net-my-kop3/9/2010 12:56 PM: Ai dankie tog vir Twitter. Nou weet die hele wêreld hiervan en hopenlik sal al die sokker fans seker maak hulle boekies is reg. Ek dink hy show net af met sy vol paspoort - wil tog net hê almal moet weet dat hy een van die 15% van Amerikaners is wat al sy land verlaat het. Good luck met die sui(doos)ter :)

StuartW3/9/2010 12:50 PM: I don't see what the whole things is about....the same goes for every visitor entering South Africa. I can tell you now, if it was the USA he would not have been allowed in if he was going there as a non-American...next time he will make sure he has 2 open pages in his passport

Blame Game3/9/2010 12:15 PM: Why all the defense for Lance? If I go to the USA to raise money for charities I still need a Visa and passport that will not expire in 3 months. I am sure he was in the "diplomats" queue as well. And please read on why 2 pages are needed for overseas visitors, so they can stamp the visa on arrival into the passport.

Tarras Bulba3/9/2010 12:13 PM: The official was enforcing a law; Lance should've checked his passport before he left. I guess some of the commentators on here would've had a different attitude if it was someone like Andrew Strauss xD

Craig3/9/2010 12:03 PM: The US Immigration officials are more hardcore to non-Americans than the SA ones to foreigners. They will kick us out without hesitation so hey Lance, you were lucky to get in my friend. Anyway I hope you enjoy the Argus and there is not a gale blowing like last time.

ant3/9/2010 11:50 AM: No excuse for rude and petty immigration officials, this sort of thing will easily put people off visiting. These people are the front line , they need to treat visitors with more respect

Imraan3/9/2010 11:41 AM: @dominique, its true, the guy is doing good work and we (including myself) should be less critical of one outburst/comment on twitter. travelling is never easy. Welcome to South Africa Lance and hope you enjoy your stay.

Contador3/9/2010 11:30 AM: Next time Lance must land in Zim and simply walk into SA. Passports seem an option on this route!!

Terence3/9/2010 11:20 AM: Hey good on you Home Affairs. Now start working on the 3 476 000 from Zimbabwe, the 1 865 000 from Nigeria, the 400 000 odd from the DRC & the other say 6 000 000 from wherever, Pakistan & the rest.

Dilligaff'd3/9/2010 11:03 AM: He's human like most of us, and blaming whoever made his travel arrangements in public is something he won't do, but rest assured that person will get a tongue-lashing.... if his books tell the truth! Travelling by private jet may(!) make folks travelling on those jets imagine they'll be treated differently Always assume arrogance, when it may be a comment without malice :(

Banana3/9/2010 11:03 AM: The guy is legend - he shouldnt need a passport - he should have the keys to the planet!

Paddy3/9/2010 11:02 AM: Whilst it makes sense to have blank pages in your passport, is it such a train crash? With all the illegal immigrants in the country - who came up with this little bit of brilliance? I cannot read half the stamps in my passport anyway! Stamp away in any old place....surprised they noticed it was full. And I agree with the comment "why didn't he just ride into the country on his bicycle."

Imraan3/9/2010 10:53 AM: Lance, what an idiot! Immigration officers just doing their job. The other fools probably let you on the plane because of your "celebrity" status. What would be interesting, is how are you gonna get out of the country with a full passport?

Fan3/9/2010 10:51 AM: Eish! Land at a USA airport, and see if you will go past the Immigration Desk, when your passport does not meet their ‘minimum requirements’…. Only in your dreams! They do not care, and will send you back without a wince. I travelled to the USA for the World Cup, and one of my colleagues was sent back for having a passport that would expire 2 months after the return date on the air ticket. They did not care about special welcome and/or courtesy – just the rules. You will even be lucky to get a response to your sweet ‘hello’. You will definitely get a hard stare!

Imraan3/9/2010 10:51 AM: Lance, what an idiot! Immigration officers just doing their job. The other fools probably let you on the plane because of your "celebrity" status. What would be interesting, is how are you gonna get out of the country with a full passport?

Zirrel3/9/2010 10:49 AM: To all you commentators you all want to sound important but you all are talking K@K

dominique3/9/2010 10:36 AM: I can't believe the comments made by the public. Lance is here to raise funds for the poor and to promote sport in the town ships and give hope to our young sports people and cancer victims. Can any of you critics do any better? Shame on all of you. Welcome to Cape Town Lance.

Albert Einstein @ Themba3/9/2010 10:32 AM: If a soccer Professor from Soweto arrives in Cape Town from overseas he does need a passport. If Lance would have arrived from Soweto he would not need a passport. Do you know there are other countries on this planet and if you happen to arrive from any of these to South Africa you need a passport. Meat-head.

Thor!3/9/2010 10:30 AM: This idiot like you other idiots here should know immigration rules by now given the number of times he travels. As usual, numbskulls like him blame other people for their folly instead of admitting that they dropped the ball...typical jerk-off attitude. What's next, blame his girlfriend for not finding his bum? Oh, he doesn't have one yet, no wonder....

SG3/9/2010 10:23 AM: I have to side with the SA officials. The world do not belong to Armstrong or Americans, for that matter. Even if you are important you should respect the country you visit. And if Lance travels a lot and do not have time to re-apply I am sure the "land of opportunities"will be able to provide him with 10 passports if he is so important.

Dilligaff'd3/9/2010 10:17 AM: He's human like most of us, and blaming whoever made his travel arrangements in public is something he won't do, but rest assured that person will get a tongue-lashing.... if his books tell the truth! Travelling by private jet may(!) make folks travelling on those jets imagine they'll be treated differently Always assume arrogance, when it may be a comment without malice :(

Andre3/9/2010 10:17 AM: Poor planning on the part of Lance's trip organisers!! Once again SA detractors (SA citizens in all likelihood) can delight themselves and blow things out of proportion. Go travel the world and you'll see that our immigration officials are some of the best around - you dont seem to complain when you get similar treartment elsewhere cause its suppose to be that way due to security reasons... Get a Life...stop moaning and be a bit more positive - your negativity is pulling this country down - OR GET OUT!!!

Andrew3/9/2010 10:13 AM: What a PR disaster! The comment from McCarthy is inane - at best. My passport has stamp all over the place, including overstamping, and pages wasted by careless placement of stamps. I dont suggest that high profile vistors be treated differently. All should be treated courteously. and made welcome - we need the them. Whats going to happen during the SWC? Will we have these petty officials throwing their weight around? A disgrace for SA

Petrus3/9/2010 10:08 AM: The truth is the official had no idea who he is and in the end they let him in anyway.What did they do,glue in another page?Makes us look like idiots on both counts.

drillbit3/9/2010 9:59 AM: Like him or hate him he is in our country to raise money for the poor and that should give him some (if not small) brownie points

G3/9/2010 9:50 AM: As a person that works at the Airport let me tell you, our immigration officers are rude, unfriendly....while every one coming into SA should be prepared and have the correct entry documents, there is no reason to be rude to vistors to our country....when the world cup fans come here, if this rude unfriendly attitude is there first experence when arriving here, what a shame it will be......they will not want to come back to SA after that.....how difficult is it to be nice and friendly to some one.........The customer service in SA in lousy......ACSA needs to do some thing about getting these immigration officers thru a "customer service" course - if it were not for our vistors they would not have a job..........as we can see by most of these comments, a lot of you know nothing about customer service........We want to welcome our vistors to SA -

whatever3/9/2010 9:49 AM: So we can have refugees running/swimming their way into SA with no documentation and then turning to crime when they discover we have no jobs, but we can't let in a well known cyclists for petty things like no space on a page for a stamp. Please, should have turned around Lance and gone home and let the world know what they can expect come SWC 2010

MB3/9/2010 9:48 AM: What is the point of having two blank pages? Can anyone give the official answer? If you look at your passport ,stamps are all over each other. Besides when traveling in the EU they do not even stamp your passport between member country's. Stamping passports should be an archaic system pre computers. Has anyone ever had a stamp in there passport serve any purpose. Surely, updating the immigration computer should supersede passport stamping.

just askin3/9/2010 9:46 AM: do we not need tourists? are we trying to chase tourist dollars away are we that arrogant? last year i returned from Kenya where the welcome i got there was outstanding the famous Kenyan smile was everywhere only to meet our surly officials who tore up visitors yellow fever certificates and insisted they get vacinated at us$80. i was so embarrased by their conduct and told them they were a disgrace to SA. They didnt give a dam as it is not their job at risk if tourists dont visit us. Funny we hear of a Nigerian planeload walking thru customs with nobody on duty to check passports so they merely walk in - welcome to Africa

Markus3/9/2010 9:43 AM: irresponsible to mention these weather predictions which were nowhere confirmed...

Mags3/9/2010 9:42 AM: Wonder who is the unfriendly one. We don't need your arrogance so just leave. We all need a new pasport befor leaving when the old one is full. How educated are you??? Hope you never lay your eyes on Madiba as you hoped to do.

Boxed Out3/9/2010 9:40 AM: WOW - What a statement "the procedures for celebrities may be different"!!!! - how do you become a celebrity, will there be some section in your pasport that will have an indication of you celebrity status? Maybe i am stupid, but i still wonder!!

Prediction3/9/2010 9:40 AM: Lance will apologise for not getting his passport in order and will thank the SA authorities for understanding. He will blame his ignorance on a manager who did not check the passport and will confirm South Africa as a destination that is ready to host world class events. He owes us that, at the very least, considering this was entirely his fault

Mags3/9/2010 9:39 AM: Wonder how is the unfriendly one. We don't need your arrogance so just leave. We all need a new pasport befor leaving when the old one is full. How educated are you??? Hope you never lay your eyes on Madiba as you hoped to do.

Boxed Out3/9/2010 9:38 AM: WOW - What a statement "the procedures for celebrities may be different"!!!! - how do you become a celebrity, will there be some section in your pasport that will have an indication of you celebrity status? Maybe i am stupid, but i still wonder!!

Martin3/9/2010 9:26 AM: 45 knots! You must be kidding. Should be 45km/h!!

Robert3/9/2010 9:23 AM: What a cr*p article Kobus! I travel internationally for 120 days a year and our immigration is the friendliest that I have met all over the world!!! Compared to England and USA! I have just had to renew my passport, which is only 4 years old (a maxi passport) because I know that I have to have at least two full clean pages in my passport! But Lance Armstrong is such an arrogant pr*%k that he thinks he can get in because he has been invited and he is a celebrity. And now SA immigration is useless and he is the victim? huh?? This shows his arrogance, once again!! WELL DONE SA IMMIGRATION! You should go and write for another country Kobus Pretorius, stop running our country down! These rules are in place for a reason!!! And you other people running the country down as well.... why don't you also p*ss off!!!

JBL3/9/2010 9:21 AM: He is very lucky, a business friend of mine was detained for 8 hours at Or Tambo prison. He was treated badly by the Airport police and the other inmates no food or water was provided and was finally rescued by the Airline. He left without his cell phone and other valuables. he understood that he had broken the law, but the severity of the treatment to him and the other cell mates have left him with very bad impression of SA. He has cancelled his world cup trip.

@Jakkals3/9/2010 9:09 AM: I agree with you....why battle @ airports when you can walk in the back door with no questions asked.....Welcome to Africa Lance....

Lee3/9/2010 8:55 AM: A rule is a rule - however counter-intuitive it may seem.. and for Armstrong to go and tweet about his own lack of preparation for travel gives a bad impression of South Africa when we so desperately need to be showing the world how great we are - sorry, but that was unnecessary. A black mark in my book for Armstrong

Immigration Officer.3/9/2010 8:37 AM: Dear Lance, your arrogance clearly indicate that you are just another American who thinks the world belangs to you. I would love to see if a South African enter the US without the requirements. We would end up in prision. You shouls have been deported back to the US and put on the black list. Just another Immigration officer who deals with an arrogant American. Honeslty we dont need you in this country.

Josie3/9/2010 8:35 AM: What makes Lance Armstrong so special that he should be exempt from a rule which is imposed worldwide. South Africa is not unique in this regard. So he's a cyclist - so what! We should not have to accept "celebrities" diva behaviour in our country. How did he eventually get in anyway?

Fellow Cyclist3/9/2010 8:32 AM: What's with all the "Lance Agro??" No where in the article does it suggest that he expected to be treated any different to anyone else (although our chief director of comms... did say "the procedure for celebrities entering the country might be different". So, if this provision exists, who can blame him for expecting to be treated differently?) His (innocent) comment about it not being the friendliest welcome he had ever received is just that...innocent. It is a comment many of us locals returning from an overseas trip could easily have made given the "stoney" reception we experience from our custom officials. Theirs is not an easy job but NOTHING stops them from being courteous rather than arrogant and officious! Anyway - a warm welcome to Lance - hope you have a very pleasant ride and that you enjoy the hospitality of your many followers here in South Africa.

Cliffy3/9/2010 8:26 AM: Lance's hosts have egg on their faces. You invite a guy here, you make sure that he has whatever innoculations, passport pages and whatever he might need so that his passage and stay are good. The devil's in the details and the people who invited him and organized the trip should have done their homework. Naughty

Burgiesburnin3/9/2010 8:22 AM: Who does this prick think he is that rules dont apply to him. Why was he let in "eventually"

Lance Rules3/9/2010 8:21 AM: Lance, welcome to the land of idiots (just read below) - may your visit be pleasant and not soured by the typical petty red tape issues people with no life concern themselves with. What an idiotic requirement to have to have TWO blank pages - treat it with the contempt it deserves. People who can't think for themselves always adopt this "rules are rules" attitude , and follow like mindless sheep in stead of challenging the problem - how pathetic.

Traveller23/9/2010 8:20 AM: It's not bureaucratic red tape, it is a rule and not only in South Africa.

Greg3/9/2010 8:16 AM: Go apply for a USA visa for our SA passports, you have to tell whole life history, arrive in USA get grilled and treated as 3rd world scum, very unpleasant, if your passport was full you would be expelled then and there. Why be different for here it is common knowledge to have space in a passport. Good on the immigration, but how did he get through in the end? The USA does not even need a visa to come here, neither do most EU countries. Yet we thanks to our inept home affairs have a hard time.

Greg3/9/2010 8:15 AM: Go apply for a USA visa for our SA passports, you have to tell whole life history, arrive in USA get grilled and treated as 3rd world scum, very unpleasant, if your passport was full you would be expelled then and there. Why be different for here it is common knowledge to have space in a passport. Good on the immigration, but how did he get through in the end? The USA does not even need a visa to come here, neither do most EU countries. Yet we thanks to our inept home affairs have a hard time.

keao 3/9/2010 8:15 AM: Gone are the days when people got special treatment because of their colour, origin or special status. Lance must thank this country for preaching the spirit of Ubuntu/Botho or humanity, hence officers applying that spirit and discretion in letting him in. Exercise extra care next time brother!

nigel3/9/2010 8:14 AM: what would have happened if it was Malema, hell he didn't even have a valid drivers licence a few days ago, but the stupid emigration officials decide to be ultra 1st world when it comes to Lance, pity they cant be so efficient in the luggage theft deparment. Its very much like the ANC Govt. brilliant in the revenue collection but utterly useless in the delivery department.

LvH3/9/2010 8:12 AM: Imagine A celebrity trying to test our readiness to host an international event intentionally flouts our rules and is allowed in without consideration of our rules. The celebrity turns out to be a fake and blows himself up inside the terminal. The people now lambasting the officials will once again ask how they did not follow the rules. They will indicate that this is proof once again of officials who do not do their job properly. Wesley Snipes went in and out of the country with a fake South African passport and I do not remember the officials being congratulated for allowing a celebrity in and out of the country unhindered. South Africans require a visa to travel to the UK because our passports are a joke and the same non-traveling star struck idiots think it is OK not to observe the rules? Congratulations to the Officials and shame on Lance Armstrong for being so stupid and arrogant.

nancycloon3/9/2010 8:09 AM: Just because he is a celebrity this incident was picked up on. Could've happened to anybody. And anybody else might have been able to negotiate their way into the country too. So give the guy a break. Welcome to SA, Lance. Good luck with the Argus!

Richard3/9/2010 8:07 AM: `To go to Australia America and England you need 6 months still on your passport. To the official I salute You.

Lance Fan3/9/2010 8:06 AM: @Mo Have you ever flown from SA to USA? The first impression they give you is that you cannot enter.

Lance Fan3/9/2010 8:03 AM: @Martin Albert and co: The reason countries require two blank pages, is simple. People from most 1st world countries do not require a visa to travel into South Africa. The visa is therefore stamped at the airport. Once a page is used for visa, that page cannot be used for entry and exit stamps. A more important question, why not check the rules of where you are going before you go? If you are opposed to the two page rule, then either protest while you are back in the USA. It is simply stupid and idiotic to demand special treatment because you were dumb enough not to understand the rules. Why is it necessary to have visa and all other rules to enter the USA? South Africa is not the only country in the world that requires these rules and any idiot would know that.

Stunned3/9/2010 8:03 AM: Can’t believe the comments I'm reading. Lance is a Celebrity that will bring unbelievable benefit to this country. We do not need a sour official that is on a power trip to stop our country from this benefit. Come on stop trying to be so spiteful. The rules are bent everyday for goverment officials.

Aletia3/9/2010 8:01 AM: Great to see an official doing their job. Mr Armstrong - rules is rules and the blank pages in your passport applies to most countries me thinks. I

Themba3/9/2010 7:57 AM: @Albert Einstein A soccer professor from Soweto does not need a passport to enter Cape Town, dimwit

Woman3/9/2010 7:57 AM: Sorry, Lance, it would have happened anywhere in the world. In fact, if you weren't Lance, you would have been deported. Rules, are rules, buddy. You are not exempt.

Themba3/9/2010 7:56 AM: Those who think South Africa is the only country that has a blank page requirement, perhaps you need to google things before you make a fool of yourself http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/empty-passport-pages-requirements.cfm http://windhoek.usembassy.gov/2_visa_page_requirement.html http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_blank_pages_do_you_need_in_your_australian_passport

Saul3/9/2010 7:40 AM: Same rule applies worldwide, so why can't he follow the rules. Why does he get through when the rest of us get sent back! it's not right.

Len van Heerden3/9/2010 7:39 AM: @Kosmonoiit No, idiot, we are not the only country with this rule. Lance flew in via a commercial airliner. Even if he was flying his private jet, he needs to check such details. Try going to the USA with a passport without any blank pages and you are guaranteed life at the airport for a long time

Albert Einstein3/9/2010 7:39 AM: Our officers do not know Lance Armstrong. If it was some soccer professor from Soweto they might have picked it up and let him move on.........Welcome to the Cape Lance.

Middle East Traveller3/9/2010 7:35 AM: Every country has a rule requiring either one or two pages with at least 3 months available on the passport expiry. Reason that he doesn't check is that americans go wherever they want without the extensive visa application process that we have. Sends a typically bad message to the rest of the world to let him in. Especially since we now have even more stringent visa requirements due the the Dept of Home Affairs ineptness.

johan3/9/2010 7:34 AM: Is there a logical reason for the 2 blank pages requirement? So, a passport is "full" if it still has 2 blank pages! It will therefore never be really full.

@FitIdiot3/9/2010 7:33 AM: @FitMk Why not leave then and go to a country where they allow people into the country without a page to stamp their passport, you idiot.

@Ruan & Co3/9/2010 7:32 AM: @Ruan Was it Wesley Snipes who travelled in and out of South Africa with a fake South African passport. The idea that immigration officials should be sitting there judging which celebrity will do anything and which one will not is brainless. The rules are clear and both Lance, his managers and the airlines should have made sure. A South African academic was refused entry in the USA because he had a Muslim name. Perhaps we should congratulate our immigrations officials for doing their job, instead of this idiotic obsession with celebrities getting away with murder. Jub Jub is in jail for killing 4 children because he thought his celebrity status meant he could race in Soweto

viv3/9/2010 7:31 AM: who do these celebrities think they are anyway??ive met a few in my life ..believe me thet all have attitude and no personality ..so well done officials treat them like everyone else,

Gert3/9/2010 7:30 AM: They should have sent the atheist back home, together with all the other SA atheists.

wdl3/9/2010 7:27 AM: Fitmike....You dont have to be here why dont you just f&^%^ off and stop being a whinning idiot.....

Good Thing3/9/2010 7:26 AM: Good on ya! Why should Lance be treated any different from any of us! If we want to visit the US we are grilled like criminals…just trying to get a visa! And arriving at the airport there…well lets say they make you not want to visit the US again! I had to get a new passport because the old one was full. He travels frequently….shouldn’t he be aware of travel rules….! SA is not as bad as you think Lance! And lets face it…if SA lets a terrorist of soccer hooligan in the country now, everyone will be up in arms about the slack security. But just let them do their jobs properly and that is also wrong! You should have checked your passport before you came! But ya, welcome to SA and next time…let your people check your passport before you travel! The rules apply to you just as much as anyone else for a reason!

martin albert3/9/2010 7:23 AM: For all the extremely stupid expert views expressed here I am still unable to understand why there is any need to have 2 or 3 BLANK pages. Home Affairs which is a mess and reflects greater government (dis)service seems to have made an arbitrary useless decision and will go down with it like the Titanic no matter what. Roll on the World Cup disaster-in-waiting!

Gary3/9/2010 7:17 AM: I work for a foreign embassy's passport department and 2 pages is the rule, old lance should of had some slacky do the homework for him, star or no star, everyone follows the rules. Anyone else would of been sent back and the airline fined for letting him on in the first place. The red tape was NOT south africa's problem, it was the airline.

Darkie3/9/2010 7:13 AM: TIA This is Africa. but you are just as much human as the rest of us lance . No better no less. These are the rules and you should know them. Once i road in a car down the wriong road in Malawi and was arrested and locked up for four days. I should have known you could not drive down the road to President Banda's palace. Those were the rules and I didn't know it. My problem., my fault. Know the rules of the country you are visitng. So you ride a bicycle but that does not make you God dear Lance.

Steve3/9/2010 7:08 AM: Play by the rules....when travelling to he States two years ago was given forms to fill in which were in Spanish asked for ones in English and was told I was being arrogant by their custom officials. Get off your high horse rules are rules..

No famous3/9/2010 7:06 AM: He should have been deported - Ricky Januarie gets of a drunk driving charge because he is famous - now Lance Armstrong gets special treatment. They have send a few Americans back with "full" passports after affording the American embassy chance to sort it out but they refused to come out at night - maybe they came to Lance's rescue or the queue was so long that his return flight had already departed so they could not send him back.

Soope Koos3/9/2010 7:02 AM: Sjoe, maar ons het omtrent 'n klomp vriendelike mense in hierdie land. Lyk my die meeste wat hier kommentaar lewer is reeds gebreinspoel en hulle denke is nou gelykstaande aan die sotte wat die land regeer. Fair enough, hy moet sorg dat sy goed reg is, maar verseker is daar so iets soos logiese denke. Hy is mos nie 'n terroris nie. En hy het al bie goeie werk hier in SA gedoen ook. Sy deelname hier sal hopelik daartoe lei dat ons meer ordentlike fietsryers ook kry. Die groter prentjie mense...

Ian Rhodes3/9/2010 6:58 AM: As a well seasoned international traveller Lance Armstrong surely knows better than to leave home with a "full passport". He should blame himself for the delay and actually thank immigration for "bending the rules" for him. If it was you or I we would have been on the next plane home!

EDWARD3/9/2010 6:57 AM: Who cares?

Regular traveller3/9/2010 6:54 AM: I can definitely agree that the immigration officials are a joke and a bad first impression of our country! A "welcome home" would suffice for South Africans, but you don't even get greeted. Even if you try to be friendly they are just plain rude and unpleasant. It makes me sick. Our country is deteriorating in every single way and I see it all the time. Unfortunately, seems like there is nothing we can do about it.

Gus3/9/2010 6:50 AM: EU are worse than anything SA does - try getting into Schengen countries for a nice holiday with your wife when all you want to do is hire a car, stay at B&B's and without a firm schedule visit the main tourist spots. It CANNOT be done unless you have booked EVERY night in advance with original PAID invoices!

Trev3/9/2010 6:49 AM: Why not just go to Zimbabwe and climb over the fence like all the other illegals?

JM3/9/2010 6:48 AM: Sorry boet, its the same everywhere. Basic rule of traveling, see that all your documentation is in order !!! Same treatment for everyone please.

Andrea3/9/2010 6:40 AM: When you arrive in India they not only check that you have more than 2 blank pages, but they also expect to see $50 so that you can pass immigration very quickly! Most travel agents will warn you to check if you have blank pages. This is not unique to SA at all!

Mo3/9/2010 6:38 AM: They deny Lance but at the same time 300 passportless Zimbabweans crossed the border to steal and beg and live in South Africa? Ever flown from USA to South Africa? Last thing you want to hear is you can't enter. Lance handled the situation very good.

Niel3/9/2010 6:32 AM: LEKKER. Nou weet hy hoe dit voel as mense sy kak land besoek. Hou op kla. Ons het 100 keer meer kak as hy om na kak state van amerika toe te gaan.

Lucy 3/9/2010 6:02 AM: People like him should know to arrange his journey in better way, and passport is the most important document for traveling. Doesn't he know that his passport is full?

Jafo3/9/2010 6:02 AM: Well if the only thing you have ever done is ride a bicycle ...then you cant really expect him to know any better ....most likely had to explain to him that SA is a country ....and not another state in USA!!

AJ3/9/2010 5:57 AM: Sorry, I am not lambasting the officials here. Rules are rules, airlines should check, no-one shuld be exempt. We moan all the time at officials when they dont do their job, lets not also moan at officials who do.

Oo773/9/2010 5:37 AM: Expat from overseas ....SA always get portrayed as lawless and when an official does his job correctly then the unlearned ones wants to be the expert and sling insults .Stick to the rules , abide by it and everyone will be better off

DGWB3/9/2010 5:31 AM: Die van julle wat krities is, ag hou asb. tog almal julle bekke toe? As Lance van enige land in Afrika oorgestap het dan was dit okei met ons regering, julle is seker gelukkig daarmee???????????????????????????????????? Lance, welcome!!! We've been waiting to have you in SA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greg3/9/2010 5:26 AM: What were you thinking Mr. Celebrity Uniball. What's good for the goose... Twat!

Raymond3/9/2010 5:21 AM: Not red tape only common sense

greg3/9/2010 4:46 AM: they should have sent his ass right back to the US. By letting him in the are rewarding ignorance. Why should he be any different than anyone else?

AB3/9/2010 4:22 AM: jp..... saying that you have been stopped in Singapore for not having Singapore dollars is ABSOLUTE CR#P. They never ask you for any proof of money and definately NOT for Sing $. I know, I lived there for years and even now go there once every 2 months. Stop trying to sound important, you must have been an unwanted alien!!

zim3/9/2010 3:33 AM: Lance, don’t look for sympathy. Celebrity or not you have an entourage that should check up on this. They should have deported you like your people do with Africans across the world. Please next time remember we are a constitutional state and have regulations which all have to adhere to. Anyway welcome.

Cornelson3/9/2010 3:26 AM: His tweed should have read :' My agent failed to warn me that I cant travel on a passport with no empty pages to stamp.' Cape Town immigration service is not at fault here, Lance. You're ignorance are!

fern3/9/2010 3:11 AM: lance should stfu and comply

marleen3/9/2010 2:37 AM: My brother visiting from the states recently had a similar problem. They were stranded in Altanta for 4 days whilst getting their passports sorted out. I stand to correction - it is not two empty pages but two visa pages. That was their problem, no matter that they did not require a visa for SA. They were stopped in the states though. Welcome Lance - enjoy !!

Ruan3/9/2010 2:36 AM: ...he's world-famous...just let him in- he's not going to do anything stupid....immigration officials at Cape Town International are rude...and arrogant- i have 1st class experience....

Whitey3/9/2010 2:16 AM: Is ther still an airport there Jakkals?

Vin3/9/2010 2:02 AM: As far as I know SA is the only country in the world that regards a passport as full unless there are two fully blank adjacent pages in your passport. Every other country I know you only need space big enough for the stamps and they dont need to be on the same page, not to talk about on an adjacent page. And think about - how ridiculous is that anyway?

Johan3/9/2010 2:00 AM: How on earth do you leave your country with a full passport? The rules are the same for everybody. Lance who?... Next time, do your homework, mate, like we all have to!!

matt3/9/2010 1:36 AM: Democracy is about fair treatment on all no matter how popular you are in the public eye,coming to UK is not an easy thing as well, you can even be stripped of your clothes, worse though in US and a bit easier in Africa especial when you have a strong arm like Armstrong.

Jakkals3/9/2010 1:28 AM: Next time book your flight to Harare in Zimbabwe and ride your bicycle over the border, much easier man.

JR3/9/2010 1:26 AM: It is clear from the comments to see which as@holes have never travelled. Thanks Piet Strydom for enlighting the idi0ts.

DJ3/9/2010 12:59 AM: Ek stem saam NIEMAND behoort anders as ELKE ander persoon hanteer te word nie. Wat vir een geld,geld vir ALMAL.

Bugz3/9/2010 12:49 AM: Welcome Lance, hope you enjoy Cape Town and SA, sorry about the customs guys and the two pages bit! I have read your book, it is an inspiration to all! About the race in our very hot summer conditions - I appreciate the logistics, but is there not a need for more water points on the route?

jp3/9/2010 12:41 AM: I mean why travel on a passport when its full , Do Americans think they can do whatever they want to , I have been denied entry into Singapore cause i did not have Singapore Dollars , even though i showed them bank statements & credit cards. They wanted Hard Cash.

Kosmonooit3/9/2010 12:31 AM: Ag shame - reason why his passport didnt get checked b4 travel was well maybe more than likley he came via his private jet. We are probably the only country in the world with this willy nilly stupid rule. But then again no silly forms to fill in any more now, so thats one up on the rest of them lol Lets hope the Cape Doctor is a bit kinder to him on Sunday (and all the rest of us please).

Johannes van Eeden3/9/2010 12:28 AM: So Mr Armstrong should also behave just like any other visitor to our shores. I am expected to give even the size of my underpants when I apply for a visa to the USA - he doesn't even have to apply for a visa to SA - so what does he expect - maybe next time without a passport!

Piet Strydom3/9/2010 12:09 AM: I travel a fair amount, and have not yet seen a country that doesn't require a few blank pages, as well as an expiry date of 3 months or so after your planned leave date. So Lance, extend your meticulous attention to detail to your travel arrangements, and don't blame an official for doing his job.

FitMike3/8/2010 11:54 PM: Lol, welcome to this S..T we have to live with every day Lance!!!!

Elli3/8/2010 11:49 PM: Good on the emigration official. What makes Lance Armstrong different to any other? Rules are rules.

Traveller 3/8/2010 11:44 PM: The same rules apply to everyone. Why should he be special? If I was the immigration official, I'd raise my hand, spin my finger and snarl, 'on your bike boy'.

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