Urgent Update for Anyone travelling via South Africa with children

If you are following my Blog, you were probably expecting Back to Basics Part 2 - that's on its way. Yesterday 27th June 2014, I received an notification from the HR department here that new legislation had been passed in South Africa and anyone traversing or even arriving and leaving fro the same place with minors (under 18's) can only do so with a FULL birth certificate (that's the one that details the mother and father too)in addition to usual paperwork (passport etc. The legislation comes into effect from 1st July 2014. This revelation filled me with horror! We are leaving the Island for a well earned break in a little over 4 weeks. Henry's 'long' birth certificate is safely stored in the UK. Sometimes it is possible to get things within around 4 weeks - 8-12 is more the norm here. But that is on a wing and a prayer AND if the RMS is at Ascension when the item arrives. The RMS is not calling at Ascension next time around, it is shuttling straight back to Cape Town! I am sure you will appreciate the panic that quickly set in when I realised there was no way I can get Henry's certificate here any time soon and certainly not before we travel to South Africa.
Ever the pragmatist, I Googled the new legislation and found that whilst the legislation has indeed been passed and will be in place when we travel, the South African Authorities will not be enforcing it strictly until 1st October 2014. Henry's almost 18 so it won't apply to us for very long. I will, however, be bringing all our certificates back with me - you just never know. So for anyone planning a visit here or to South Africa - remember even if you are just visiting St Helena via Ascension, all medi-evacs are via Cape Town, bring long birth certificates for anyone under 18, just in case. You can find out more information here on the UK travel advice web-site, which will be changed if legislation changes https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa
and here from South Africa http://www.southafrica.info/travel/documents/travel-children-110614.htm#.U6585JR_uSo