Pretoria â€" Tourism remains key to South Africa’s economic development
strategy and the substantial growth in tourist arrivals is testament
to how dedication to marketing ‘destination SA’ is paying off.


Tourist arrival figures have gone up by 14.8% this year compared to
the same period in 2015, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa
said on Tuesday. She was chairing the International Cooperation, Trade
and Security Cluster briefing to give an update on the bloc’s
Programme of Action (PoA) towards achieving the goals of the National
Development Plan (NDP).


“Marketing South Africa as a premier domestic and international
tourist destination has been central to our economic diplomacy
efforts,” Minister Molewa said in Pretoria.


The improvement in tourism statistics has been attributed to the work
of the country’s more than 120 missions, which include South Africa’s
embassies, high commissions and consulate generals, who worked
together with Brand South Africa to improve the tourism arrival
figures.


Statistics from the Department of Tourism in September showed that 822
416 tourist arrivals were recorded for July 2016, up by 89 525 tourist
compared to the same month of the previous year.


There was an increase of 131 002 tourists in July 2016 compared to the
same month in 2015. This brings the total tourist arrivals for the
period January-July 2016 to 5 791 504, which is an increase of 751 388
compared to the same period of the previous year.


Minister Molewa said the growth in tourism was due in part to
innovative marketing strategies and the tourism incentives that were
given to small business. The operational environment for tourism has
also

improved.


“We have had an improvement of economic diplomacy, regional
integration, peacekeeping and building resilience in our country’s
economy,” Minister Molewa said.


She said it was encouraging that during the first months of 2016,
about R39.3 billion in foreign direct spend in South Africa was
achieved.


“The realisation of this kind of revenue sustains the local tourism
economy. It also indicates that our country remains a popular
destination for tourists inside South Africa, from the region and
globally,” she said.


South Africa’s economic diplomacy remains central to attracting
investment, creating jobs, and growing and transforming the
economy.

The country continues to accelerate its economic
diplomacy efforts at a regional, continental and global level by
creating new trade opportunities, increasing investment in regional,
continental and global markets, and overall deepening economic ties
with both new and established trade partners.


Minister Molewa said South Africa has enhanced its visibility on
national and international trade, investment promotion and tourism
platforms.


“This has yielded real and tangible results. For example, sales of
manufactured value-added exports have increased by R1.2 billion,
bringing the cumulative total for the year to R 3.8 billion.


“One of our priorities is to achieve a number of bilateral and
multilateral agreements through which we will promote, facilitate and
host meetings with potential investors; as well as engaging with
various Chambers of Commerce,” Minister Molewa said. â€" SAnews.gov.za V.1863

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article

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
Click here for full article