Entertainment

My Nasty Encounter with South African High Commission…FUNKE OSAE-BROWN Of Luxury Reporter Magazine

Published

8 years ago

March 1, 2017 6:28 pm

Funke Osae Brown is the MD/CEO Luxury Reporter Magazine which is an online magazine that concentrates more on luxury lifestyle. I know Funke to be an easy going lady but its so unfortunate she has this to say about the South African High Commission

Kindly read her frustration below:

Towards the end of January this year, I got an invitation to be in South Africa on the 1^st of March, 2017 to experience the new BMW 5 Series. It was an event I had looked forward to considering my love for fast cars and the kind of beat I cover as a journalist.

As soon as I received the itinerary and other documents needed for my journey, I applied for the South African visa on the 13^th of February. Conscious of the many challenges that come with getting a South African visa, I was advised to apply through one of South Africa’s accredited trade partners World ‘N’ Traveland (WONTRA).

The WONTRA staff who assisted me with the application process was very courteous. She guided me through the application requirements. At a point, she advised I get a statement of account from my host BMW in South Africa or their certificate of incorporation. I declined to do this because I felt my statement of account and a letter of introduction from my organisation should be enough. She also advised I get a letter of authorisation from my husband. I told her I have that already because the last application I did I was asked for it. This is a letter my husband find ridiculous to write! He argues it is a sexist requirement from an embassy. Why would he authorised a full-grown woman to travel because she is his wife, he reasoned? Anyway, I got him to give him the letter, even though I found it ridiculous too!

Since I was applying through WONTRA, I had to pay a premium price of N70, 000 instead of the official N8, 600 for visa fee and N22, 310 for VFS courier service. The lady at WONTRA told me the visa should be ready within the stipulated 10 to 15 working days by the High Commission. Based on a past experience and what others have told me, I decided to notify the few people I know handling South Africa related travel and tourism matters in Nigeria to use their connection to pull strings at the embassy so that my visa could be ready on or before my travel date. I knew I had about 13 days between my submission and travel dates to get my visa.

After 10 working days, I didn’t receive any news from the VFS. I decided to notify my contacts on the possibility of checking out my application status at the High Commission, they all told me to wait that I will surely get my passport on or before my travel date. As I sat behind my laptop to type this today, March 1^st 2017, I am yet to receive my passport from the South African High Commission. I am supposed to travel tonight.

What is most painful about this experience is it seems the South Africa High Commission in Lagos smacks of arrogance and is consumed by a nonchalant attitude. For a country, that is promoting itself as a tourists’ destination in Nigeria, to be so rude to its visa applicants, beats me. In spite of all my efforts and my host’s (BMW) in South Africa effort to reach the High Commission in Lagos, there has been no response from the High Commission to emails sent and calls put through to them. It seems to me the High Commission is populated lazy staff who have just refused to understand the importance of their job to the growth of the economy of their country. How can one explain applying for visa and you are yet to receive your passport 12 days or a month after application?

The South African High Commission can never claim to be busier that the United Kingdom or United States of America’s embassies in Nigeria. If you apply for UK or US visa, you can be assured to get your passport within 10 working days or less. There are people who have applied for the South African visa since February 3^rd 2017 who are yet to receive their visas today, March 1^st; that is almost a month after submitting their applications. Delaying the issuance of my visa and that of other four journalists’ I am supposed to travel with means BMW has lost a lot of money on booking business class tickets for us, paying for our accommodation, airport pick up and drop off and food for the number of days we are supposed to spend in South Africa.

You can imagine the loss to those going on personal trips who have paid for their flights, accommodation not to have received their visas days after their travel dates have passed?

If South Africa is truly serious about marketing itself as a tourists’ destination, its High Commission needs to drop its toga of arrogance and emulate countries like Dubai and Kenya where you get your visa within two days as is the case with Dubai or Kenya that issues visa on arrival. Little wonder, Dubai has the largest tourism market share in Nigeria! SOUTH AFRICA HIGH COMMISSION RELEASE MY PASSPORT!!!!

#SOUTHAFRICAHIGHCOMMISSION #RELEASEMYPASSPORT

*God has reason for everything they say but still these neighbouring foreigners abi werin i go call dem need to stop treating us like this. Enough is Enough*

Entertainment

K-drama actor Song Jae-Rim found dead at home

Published

18 hours ago

November 13, 2024 11:31 am

BodexNG

Song Jae-Rim, the South Korean actor known for his role in K-drama ‘The Moon Embracing The Sun’, is dead.

According to Korean media outlet Soompi, Jae Rim was discovered dead in his apartment in Seoul’s Seongdong district on November 12. He was 39.

A two-page letter was reportedly discovered at the scene. Although the cause of his death has not been revealed, there are rumours on social media that the actor may have committed suicide.

The authorities also said there are “no signs of foul play” at this time and that the investigation into the actor’s death is still ongoing.

Song Jae Rim’s burial is scheduled to take place at a funeral home in Yeouido on November 14.

Born on February 18, 1985, Jae Rim began his career as a runway model and appeared on the covers of numerous magazines.

He started acting in 2009 but got his big break for his role in ‘The Moon Embracing The Sun’, the 2012 drama series.

Entertainment

Chioma Chijioke welcomes baby boy — two years after husband’s death

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024 1:49 pm

BodexNG

Chioma Chijioke, the Nigerian actress, has welcomed a baby boy — nearly two years after the death of her husband.

The movie star lost Kingsley Anosike, the Nollywood filmmaker and director, in February 2023. Anosike died in Kuwait after slumping on a football field.

On Monday evening, Chijioke announced her childbirth in an Instagram post.

The actress shared maternity photos while also expressing gratitude to God for her bundle of joy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Victorious Chioma (@chioma_chijioke_)

The identity of Chijioke’s new partner, was however, not revealed.

Her colleagues and fans have congratulated her on the new addition to her family, wishing her all the best as a new mother.

The actress had previously shared emotional posts during her mourning period, including photos of herself going bald.

She had described her late husband as her “most precious possession”.

“Death you’re indeed a thief! In a twinkle of an eye you stole from me one of my most precious possessions and I can’t even fight you,” she wrote.

“Saying my heart is broken is an understatement compared to how I’m feeling, there’s this hole in my heart that has refused to be filled.”

Entertainment

Oprah Winfrey debunks claim she got $1m to endorse Kamala Harris

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024 1:46 pm

BodexNG

Oprah Winfrey, the media executive, has denied claims that she received a $1 million payment to campaign for Kamala Harris.

Donald Trump, the Republican standard-bearer, recently defeated Harris, candidate of the Democratic Party in the United States presidential election, to become the 47th president.

But on November 8, Washington Examiner alleged that Winfrey’s company Harpo Productions received the payment to host a celebrity town hall meeting.

The newspaper claimed the $1 million was part of a $1 billion raised by Harris to fund the election.

The report alleged the campaign “paid more than $15 million, according to federal filings,” on “event production”.

“This included a $1 million payment to Harpo Productions for the ‘Unite for America’ event, which took place in September,” it added.

Winfrey had hosted a town hall meeting for Harris on September 19, which featured prominent celebrities like Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez, and Meryl Streep. She also appeared as a keynote speaker at Harris’ rally in Philadelphia.

Despite her involvement in the rally, the 70-year-old television host maintained that she did not receive any payment for her support.

In an interview with TMZ, Winfrey denied the report, saying “it is untrue”.

“Not true. I was paid nothing ever,” she said.

In a statement, Harpo Productions confirmed that the Harris campaign had paid for the costs of the town hall, without giving a specific figure.

“Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo,” it added.

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others