South African government slams Ryanair's Afrikaans language test as a 'backward profiling system,' report says

• The South African government has attacked Ryanair's decision to quiz passengers in Afrikaans.
• The Department of Home Affairs in South Africa said it was "taken aback," Reuters reported.

The South African government labeled Ryanair's new policy of making South African passengers fill out a pre-flight questionnaire issued in the Afrikaans language a "backward profiling system," Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The budget airline previously told Insider that South African customers would be unable to travel from the UK and Europe if they could not complete the language test.

The requirement comes as the South African Department of Home Affairs recently accused criminals of creating fake passports for sale in South Africa, multiple outlets reported.

In a statement sent to Insider, the airline said: "Due to the high prevalence of fraudulent South African passports, we require passengers travelling to the UK to fill out a simple questionnaire issued in Afrikaans."

According to Reuters, the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa said: "We are taken aback by the decision of this airline." It added that there were other measures in place for airlines to monitor fraudulent activity and verify passports.

The Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours.

The UK High Commission in South Africa confirmed in a tweet on Friday that the test was not a requirement for South African passport holders to enter the UK.

The EU Delegation to South Africa also confirmed to Insider that the language tests are not a requirement for South African passport holders entering the European Union.

A South African man who was required to take the test by Ryanair told Insider's Urooba Jamal that it was "callous" and "insensitive."