Cape Town - The number of Chinese tourists who visited South Africa in
October 2015 increased by 85.6% to 7 902 compared to October 2014,
Statistics SA said on Monday.


The Netherlands had the largest decrease in tourist numbers (14.2%)
compared to October 2014.
In October 65.7% of tourists came from Europe, 15% from North America,
11% from Asia and 1.4% from the Middle East.


The ten leading countries of origin of overseas tourists were the UK,
Germany, the US, France, the Netherlands, Australia, China,
Switzerland, India and Canada.


The Netherlands had the largest drop in tourist numbers (14.2%)
compared to October 2014, while China showed the largest increase
(85.6% to 7 902).


Almost all the tourists from the rest of Africa came from Sadc
countries.


A total of 3 378 084 travellers passed through South African ports of
entry in October 2015, Statistics SA said on Monday.


These travellers were made up of 890 783 South African residents and 2
487 301 foreign travellers and include arrivals, departures and people
in transit.


The volumes in all three categories increased compared to October
2014. Whereas arrivals for South African residents rose by 2.6% to 452
153 compared to October 2014, departures increased by 1.5% to 437 785
and transits went up by 15.6% to 872.


For foreign

travellers, arrivals and departures increased by 3% to 1.3
million and 1.1 million respectively, while transits were up by 8.5%
to 75 531.


A comparison between September 2015 and October 2015 indicates that
the volume of arrivals increased for both SA residents and foreign
travellers. However, departures decreased for SA travellers.


The volume of arrivals for SA residents increased by 2.3% to 452 153,
departures decreased by 2.4% to 437 758 and transits decreased by 6.8%
to 872.


For foreign travellers the volume of arrivals went up by 3.5% to 1.3
million between September 2015 and October 2015, and departures
increased by 2.9% to 1.1 million, while transits fell by 5.7% to 75
531.


In October 36.2% of the visitors were same-day visitors and 63.8% were
tourists who stayed overnight.


Between October 2014 and October 2015 the number of same-day visitors
increased by 11.4% to 423 864 and tourist numbers decreased by 8.8% to
748 561.


Between September 2015 and October 2015 same-day visitor numbers
increased only slightly, while the tourist count rose by 4.4%.


Road transport was the most common and used by 70.9% of the
travellers, while 28.8% used air transport and only 0.3% used sea
transport. V.1563

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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