Britain has threatened to impose a visa regime on visitors from South Africa amidst fears that the country is being used as a transit point by al-Qaeda operatives to gain easy entry to the UK.

The Government is also concerned that the country is being used by people smugglers to bring non-South Africans into the UK.

Ministers have serious concerns about the ability of non-South Africans to acquire South African passports, a concern that has been heightened by the steady flow of people fleeing the turmoil in Zimbabwe.

A further ten countries, including Brazil, Malaysia and several small states in southern Africa, were also warned by the Home Office that their residents faced having to obtain a visa to come to Britain.

Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, said the countries had six months to make a range of improvements, including how passports are issued, if they are to avoid the imposition of a visa regime requiring all visitors to the UK to be fingerprinted.

South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Malaysia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia and Swaziland have been threatened with a visa regime after a review found they were a risk to the UK in terms of illegal immigration, crime and security.

The review of all non-European states which do not presently require a visa for entry to the UK looked at the security of passports including the application, production and storage of the documents.

Other criteria used in the test was whether there was co-operation in re-documentation and return of nationals being deported or removed from the UK for immigration and other offences; the risk posed by the country's nationals in terms of terrorism and criminality and the steps taken by the country to combat terrorism, crime and immigration abuse internally.

Mr Byrne said: “Three quarters of the world’s population need to pass a visa check to come to Britain.

“We cannot and will not shy away from going wider and will wherever we think there’s a risk to the UK.”

If the Government presses ahead with its plan visitors from the eleven countries would need to apply for a six month visa, and provide their fingerprints, before travelling to the UK.

Yesterday’s announcement that South Africans may need to obtain a visa follows pressure over the last few months from UK law enforcement agencies.

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