Despite significant growth, David Frost, Satsa CEO, points out that
over recent year`s South Africa`s tourism growth has stagnated.


Overseas arrivals to South Africa for the first half of this year are
up 19% year-to-date, compared with 2015, according to the latest
arrival stats from Statistics SA. Total arrivals to South Africa are
up 15% year-to-date compared with 2015.


However, despite significant growth, David Frost, Satsa CEO, points
out that over recent year`s South Africa`s tourism growth has
stagnated. "The last four years, we`ve actually stood still," said
Frost. Frost points out that internationally, growth in arrivals
average about 4% a year. Had 4% growth been achieved in South Africa
year on year since 2012, the total number of arrivals for the first
six months of 2016 would stand at 5 166 532. South Africa`s actual
arrivals is 4% lower than this, with the total number of arrivals for
the period from January to June 2016 at 4 969 087.


Tourism Update tracked the first six months of arrivals to South
Africa over the last four years. While total arrivals to South Africa
for the first six months is 15% up compared with the same period in
2015, when a significant decline in arrivals was experienced, overseas
arrivals to South Africa for the first six months of 2016 are up by
only 0.57% compared with the same period for 2012. The total number of
overseas arrivals for the first six months was 1 163 478 and 1 170 148
for the years 2012 and 2016 respectively.


Compared with the first six months of 2015, arrivals from the US are
up by 19%, and the UK up by 2%. However, these key source

markets
experienced slow growth on 2012 figures. Arrivals from the US for the
first six months are up by only 5% compared with the same period in
2012, with a total of 163 257 arrivals between January and June.


Arrivals from the UK for the first six months are up 3%
compared with the same period in 2012, with a total of 222 942
arrivals.


Germany, the third biggest source market into SA, is showing healthy
growth over the past few years. Arrivals from Germany for the first
six months is up 21% compared with 2015. Germany also leads the
tourism growth for the first half of the year compared to the same
period in 2012, up by 19% with a total of 142 092 arrivals between
January and June.


Commenting on the outlook ahead, Frost said there were a number of
challenges facing growth for 2017. "If we`ve got capacity constraints
in Cape Town in terms of hotels and high-end game lodges, we need to
be looking at markets that are able to visit in winter." Frost added
that product development was needed in the northern part of the
country so that every itinerary to South Africa did not have to
include Cape Town. "If we`ve got capacity constraints in Cape Town, we
can`t grow."


For the 2014 arrival figures, Stats SA stopped counting people
transiting through SA as tourists. As a result of the revision, in
order to compare figures after 2014 with previous years, it is
necessary to deduct the transit figures from the totals, which Tourism
Update has done for the purpose of this report. V.1711

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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