Ryanair was blamed of racial discrimination for force the citizens of South Africa to accept general knowledge test in from Afrikaans to prove of their nationality before they are allowed board his flights in UK and others of Europe.
Afrikaans is spoken by about 14% of South African population along with 11 others official languages.
Travelers from South Africa complained about experience It has left they feel humiliated and traumatized.
Dinesh Joseph, who speaks English, told Metro that test felt like “profiling and discrimination” after being asked complete get it back to London from holiday in Lanzarote last month.
He said he was told “It’s yours language”when he asked for the form in English.
“We have a strong past. I am human of color. There is a certain unconscious trigger going on,” he said.
“It super callous and insensitive of them pick one specific language.”
English-speaking mom Katherine Bronze told Metro that she and her 11-year-old year-old son Colby was not allowed to receive on their flight back home to Essex at West Knock Airport in Ireland.
She said, “It was first once I felt like I was discriminated against against for something out of my control – because it was immediately assumed that my passport was wrong
“I know it sounds funny, but it was actually traumatic, everyone was looking at me and I cried a lot.”
In the end they made it home after her husband’s British passport-holder came for them and set off with them from Dublin airport two days later.
Zinhle Nowazi, South African in United Kingdom who does not usually speak Afrikaans made take test to board flight from Ibiza last week and told the Financial Times that “this is highly unacceptable … they haven’t thought about the consequences.” of in test in light of South Africa history and language respected use under apartheid.
This was reported by the airline Sky News. test aims to combat the “high prevalence in fake South African passports.”
“We require that passengers traveling to the UK complete out a simple questionnaire in Afrikaans. If they are unable complete this form, they will be refused travel and issued with a full return” is added.
