THE Department of Tourism will begin working to "regain lost ground"
in the industry, now that changes have been introduced to SA`s
contentious new regulations, minister Derek Hanekom told the tourism
portfolio committee on Friday.


Mr Hanekom briefed the portfolio committee in Parliament, saying that
the changes to the regime would allow for the beleaguered tourism
industry to recover without compromising national security and the
fight against human trafficking.


The changes come as part of recommendations by an inter-ministerial
committee tasked with assessing the unintended consequences of visa
regulations on the tourism industry. The regulations include required
unabridged birth certificates for minors and in-person visa
applications.


SA will now require a minor`s birth certificate with parental details
included. Accredited tourism agencies will also be brought in to
facilitate visa applications on behalf of travellers. The visa
regulations were blamed for disappointing tourism numbers, with the
industry blaming them for scaring off tourists.


"The challenge right now is to get the list of accredited tourism
agencies which will get visa applications approved. Measures are being
worked on to allow for executive business people to access SA and

this
is a matter that is being worked on by the Departments of Trade and
Industry as well as Home Affairs," Mr Hanekom said.


He said that in countries where there were no South African missions,
the Department of Home Affairs would accept applications for medical
and visitor visas by post. He said biometrics and photos would be
taken on arrival at ports of entry in SA.


The department was preparing to introduce an accredited tourism agency
for Brics partners India, Russia and China. SA would also increase the
number of visa facilitation centres in countries such as the UK,
Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates for those seeking visas for
purposes other than tourism, Mr Hanekom said.


The inter-ministerial committee accepted the implementation of the
current child travel requirements, namely the written parental consent
and affidavits. Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the committee James
Vos said SA should return to marketing itself as a tourism destination
urgently.


African National Congress (ANC) committee member Sheilla Xego-Sovita
said the committee appreciated that the minister was able to assist
the tourism industry without jeopardising national security. V.1407

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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