Letitia Van Zyl-Schultz
What was meant to be a long-awaited family reunion in Velddrif turned into a distressing international travel ordeal for Italian-born Ilaria Gastaldo and her young son after she was unexpectedly denied boarding on a flight to South Africa.
Gastaldo, who shares a South African son with her partner, Hendrik Viljoen, said she was still seeking answers after being prevented from travelling to South Africa despite having an approved visa.
The couple’s son was born in South Africa in 2021. Gastaldo moved to South Africa in 2022 and bought a home in Velddrif.
She later returned to Italy with their son while Viljoen, who occasionally works aboard a crew ship, continued living at their Velddrif home.
According to Gastaldo she planned a March holiday to South Africa with a her son, a family reunion.
“We wanted to visit Hendrik in
Velddrif and booked our flights for March. When I booked the flight everything was in order and our visas were accepted.”
Trouble started at the airport in Italy when airline staff informed her there appeared to be a technical issue relating to her visa.
She was nevertheless allowed to board her first flight.
However, in Paris, Gastaldo was refused permission to board her connecting flight to South Africa. “According to the airline there were issues with my visa and I contradicted South African immigration laws.”
Without receiving what she described as a clear explanation Gastaldo and her son were sent back to Venice.
“My child is a South African citizen, yet I was treated like a criminal without knowing exactly what the problem was or what I had done wrong. People were shouting at me.”
Meanwhile, the expectant partner and father, waiting in Velddrif for his
family’s arrival, struggled to obtain information or assistance on the matter himself.
“We last saw one another in June 2025 and were looking forward to our time together,” he said.
“No-one could give me an answer and some departments at Home Affairs said they were not allowed to speak to me. In the meantime my family was sent back to Venice.
“Out of desperation I contacted Stephan Viljoen at a local attorneys’ firm in Velddrif.”
According to Gastaldo she still had not received clarity on the reason for the denied boarding.
“It was a nightmarish experience and I still don’t know why my boarding was denied. I have a house in Velddrif and my son is a South African citizen, but as a foreigner I was treated like a criminal.”
Stephan Viljoen, litigation attorney at Kim Pistor Attorneys and Conveyancers in Velddrif, confirmed the firm became involved in the matter after it had escalated into an urgent legal issue.
“The disruption went beyond travel arrangements.
“It affected family arrangements, created emotional strain and raised concerns relating to the well-being and rights of the minor child involved.”
He said an urgent legal strategy was implemented, combining litigation preparation with direct engagement with relevant authorities.
“An urgent court application was prepared, setting out the factual timeline, legal basis and prejudice that could arise if the matter was not addressed immediately.”
Parallel efforts were also undertaken to engage decision makers outside court to resolve the matter as efficiently as possible.
“The outcome restored the client’s ability to proceed as intended and ensured that the rights and interests involved, particularly those of the minor child, were protected,” Viljoen said.
Gastaldo was ultimately able to travel to South Africa approximately a week later and spent a month with her family.
“I am back in Italy now.
“Home Affairs informed us it could not disclose the reason why my boarding was denied, but admitted it had made a mistake.
“We are now awaiting the refund of all the costs.”
