A Lithuanian actress has been deported after she tried to abuse SA’s immigration laws, reports The Citizen. Leva Andrejevaite, who was born in Russia, arrived at the Cape Town International Airport in a private jet without a visa on 28 April.

Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said Andrejevaite sought to abuse SA’s refugee management system by fabricating a story that she needed to apply for asylum because of the ‘war in Ukraine’.

After being refused entry, she allegedly lied to immigration officials about wanting to apply for asylum. They were then required to let her into the country so that she could apply for asylum within five days.

Qoza said Andrejevaite was issued with an asylum seeker visa in terms of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

‘At no stage during her stay in the country did Ms Andrejevaite attempt to apply for asylum. As such, she became an illegal foreigner, as defined in the Immigration Act, because the five-day period lapsed. Instead, images of her attending a party in Cape Town hosted by Mr Rob Hersov surfaced on numerous publications and social media platforms.’

Qoza said Andrejevaite subsequently launched legal proceedings in the Western Cape High Court and made disparaging comments about SA, the Department of Home Affairs and its immigration officials.

Qoza said the Western Cape High Court ordered Andrejevaite to apologise to South Africans, the Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and the Department of Home Affairs officials.

She made a formal apology, withdrew her application after accepting that she had lied in it and agreed to pay the costs incurred by the department.

Qoza said Andrejevaite was formally processed for deportation on 5 June 2022 and declared an undesirable person by immigration officials. 

She is prohibited from visiting SA for five years.

Full report in The Citizen