Cape Town - It is too close to make a call on whether South Africa
toppled Nigeria to claim the fancy status of the largest economy in
Africa, according to KPMG senior economist Christie Viljoen.


Viljoen told Fin24 it will "come down to the GDP numbers released by
the relevant statistics agencies over the next few weeks".


It was widely reported that SA had overtaken Nigeria as Africa`s
biggest economy in dollar terms owing to the strengthening of the rand
rally and the devaluation of the naira in June 2016.


Calculating the GDP numbers using last year's IMF figures and this
year's currency exchange numbers, shows that South Africa's economy is
worth around $301bn and Nigeria's $296bn, according to the
International Monetary Fund`s (IMF) World Economic Outlook
(WEO).


However, KPMG is casting doubt on these calculations saying that it is
methodologically incorrect.


"The reported US dollar estimates are based on GDP data from the end
of 2015, while the exchange rate readings are from August 2016. The
time difference between the two data points makes these calculations
spurious at best and not really a reliable indicator of recent
developments."


It noted that in order to reflect the impact of the naira devaluation
and the rand`s recovery on comparable GDP estimates, a calculation
would need to be made based on GDP data for the second quarter of
2016.


Viljoen said the 2016Q2 GDP reports from South Africa and

Nigeria will
reflect stagnant economies. "From an exchange rate perspective, the
naira ended the period notably weaker while the rand was quite
stronger."


He explained to Fin24 that each country`s statistics agency or central
bank is tasked with calculating local GDP numbers. The IMF then
collects this data and uses it in its own database and
forecasts.


To determine the biggest economy in Africa, Viljoen said each
country`s GDP is calculated in local currency terms.


"This is then divided by the relevant exchange rate to attain a US
dollar estimate of each country`s GDP, which is then comparable across
countries for a given year."


South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt will over the coming month release
their 2016Q2 GDP reports and then we will have more clarity on
this.


South After lost the title as Africa's largest economy in 2014 after
Nigeria rebased its GDP. The country then moved down to third place at
the end of 2015 largely due to its weakened currency as Egypt ranked
in second position.


These rankings however do not mean much for the average person.


"For the man in the street it does not really influence their general
wellbeing, income prospects, safety or wealth," said Viljoen. "For the
country as a whole, it is a positive influence in terms of foreign
investment and international standing." V.1704

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.

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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.

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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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