The Department of Home Affairs has noted reports by the public broadcaster relating to the alleged refusal of entry to Mr Bill Gates at the Sabi Sabi landing strip due to her daughter reportedly not in possession of an unabridged birth certificate.

We wish to put it on record that these reports are not only misleading but are devoid of any factual basis. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve does not have any form of immigration personnel to facilitate travel into and out of the country for international passengers directly. Sabi Sabi only has a small private runway that only accepts Local inbound flights. All visitors would need to clear immigration at a recognised international airport.

In addition, our Movement Control System has no record of Mr Gates entering into the country in the past few days. We wish to put it on record that if indeed Mr Gates were to visit our country he would be expected to adhere to the laws of the Republic just as any ordinary visitor would.

It is regretable that the public broadcaster elected to proceed with this crass public disinformation without any attempt to verify the veracity thereof with the Department of Home Affairs.

It is important to note that the InterMinisterial Committee on Migration is seized with the matter of potential unintended consequences and it would be advisable for all of us to respect that process, which is being led by The Presidency.

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