Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

'Using Afrikaans to verify citizenship is ignorant, insulting and discriminatory': Baroness Chakrabarti slams Ryanair

Ryanair is under fire for asking South Africans to prove nationality with controversial Afrikaans test

'Using Afrikaans to verify citizenship is ignorant, insulting and discriminatory': Baroness Chakrabarti slams Ryanair

BARONESS Shami Chakrabarti has said that the policy of Ryanair forcing South Africans to prove their nationality by taking a test in Afrikaans is 'insulting and discriminatory' and urged the government to take action, according to a report.

She asked the government to explore all potential regulatory options to persuade the airline to the cause of common sense and decency, the MailOnline reported.


Ryanair has been accused of racial discrimination after forcing South African passengers to take a test in Afrikaans before they can board its planes in the UK and Europe. The Irish low-cost airline has been pilloried in the House of Lords for its controversial policy.

Afrikaans is a language used by just 12 per cent of the population that has long been identified with apartheid and the white minority. It is behind Zulu and Xhosa in terms of the number of people who speak it, with only seven million native speakers out of a population of 60 million.

The airline claimed it is necessary due to the high number of impostors posing as South African citizens with fake passports.

According to the report, Ryanair's 15-question Afrikaans questionnaire was issued to all South African passport holders boarding flights in the UK and Europe.

Transport minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said it was not UK policy to demand a language test and agreed that Ryanair's actions were 'morally dubious and surely not appropriate'. She added that the government is in touch with the airline and the Civil Aviation Authority will investigate the matter.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Purvis of Tweed pointed out that Ryanair operates under licences in the UK and part of that licence is to be in 'good repute'.

"It is not good repute to be in effect in breach of Article 14 in the European Convention of Human Rights for discrimination on language basis and it is not good repute to bring this whole country into the poor reputation for international travellers," he was quoted as saying by the MailOnline.

One upset Ryanair passenger, Zinhle Novazi, has said that the policy is 'extremely exclusionary'. She said she does not normally speak Afrikaans but was made to take the test so she could board a flight from Ibiza last week.

Another passenger who does not speak Afrikaans, Dinesh Joseph, was turned away from a flight to the UK from Lanzarote in May because they did not do the test.

More For You

Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Wider reshuffle includes changes in Starmer’s private office and communications.
  • Appointment comes ahead of a budget expected to include further tax rises.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi putin

Before their formal meeting, Putin offered Modi a ride in his Aurus limousine.

X/@narendramodi

Six key takeaways from the SCO summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Modi pressed for ending the Ukraine conflict at the earliest, reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia, and discussed trade and border issues with Xi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghanistan earthquake

Afghan volunteers and Taliban security personnel carry an earthquake victim evacuated by a military helicopter from the Nurgal district of Kunar province onn September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800, thousands injured

A MAJOR rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake and several aftershocks destroyed homes in a remote mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, according to Taliban authorities.

The quake struck just before midnight and was felt as far as Kabul and in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ganpati festival

The Ganpati festival celebrates Ganesha as the god of new beginnings, and the god of wisdom and intelligence. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hindu community centre in London damaged in fire after Ganapati Visarjan event

A HINDU community centre in east London caught fire on Saturday evening, causing major damage to the building. The London Fire Brigade brought the fire under control and confirmed that no injuries were reported.

The incident took place at the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre on Cleveland Road in Ilford, which had been decorated for a Ganapati Visarjan event attended by members of the Hindu community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi ,Xi & Putin

Narendra Modi talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

SCO declaration slams Pahalgam attack, calls for united action on terror

Highlights:

  • SCO condemns terror attack in Pahalgam and echoes India’s stance on “double standards”.
  • Leaders call for justice for perpetrators of attacks in Pahalgam and Balochistan.
  • Declaration criticises Israeli military strikes in Gaza causing civilian casualties.
  • SCO stresses UN’s central role in global counter-terrorism strategy.

THE SHANGHAI Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and agreed with India’s position that “double standards” in tackling terrorism are not acceptable.

Keep ReadingShow less