A year-on-year comparison between 2016 and 2017 for Q3 shows that the
number of overseas tourists increased by 5%.
September arrivals increased by 2,1% year-to-date, from 1 273 734 in
September 2016 to 1 300 502 in September 2017. A month-to-month
comparison indicates a small drop of 0,1%, from August 2017’s figure
of 1 302 312.
In September this year, the distribution of overseas tourists was:
• Europe: 52%, 115 148 arrivals;
• North America: 18%, 38 535 arrivals;
• Asia: 13%, 27 083 arrivals;
• Australasia: 7%, 15 031 arrivals;
• Central and South America: 4%, 8 565 arrivals;
• Middle East: 2%, 4 358 arrivals.
The ten leading countries visiting South Africa in September 2017
accounted for 75% of all tourism:
• US: 32 551 arrivals (16%);
• UK: 28 904 arrivals (14%);
• Germany: 26 282 arrivals (13%);
• Australia: 13 296 arrivals (6%);
• France: 13 102 arrivals (6%);
• The Netherlands, 12 246 arrivals (6%);
• China: 9 142 arrivals (4%);
• India: 7 676 arrivals (4%);
• Canada: 5 984 arrivals (3%);
• Brazil: 5 493 arrivals (3%).
The year-to-date stats show that the number of tourists has increased
for seven of the ten leading countries; Brazil, France, Canada,
Germany, USA, Australia and the Netherlands, but decreased for China,
UK and India.
Brazil had the largest increase of 60%, from 3 425 tourists in
September 2016 to 5 493 in

September 2017. They were closely followed
by France, which increased by 51%, from 8 673 tourists in September
2016 to 13 102 in September 2017. China had the largest decrease of
10%, from 10 160 tourists in September 2016 to 9 142 in September 2017.
A year-to-date comparison for the ten leading SADC countries
travelling to South Africa shows that the number of tourists increased
for eight of the ten leading countries; Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana,
Angola, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia, and decreased for
Namibia and Lesotho.
Mozambique showed the largest increase of 17%, from 94 207 tourists in
September 2016 to 110 076 in September 2017, while Namibia showed the
largest decrease of 2%, from 16 636 tourists in September 2016 to 16
258 in September 2017.
In September 2017, 88% (183 344) of overseas tourists arrived in the
country by air, while 12% (25 293) came by road and less than 0.1%
(83) arrived by sea.
Tourists from SADC countries, on the other hand, came predominantly by
road, 94% (568 973), with only 6% (39 030) arriving by air.
Quarterly and annual trends
Between Q2 and Q3 of 2017 the number of overseas tourists increased by
15%, from 545 208 in Q2 to 628 751 in Q3.
A year-on-year comparison between 2016 and 2017 for Q3 shows that the
number of overseas tourists increased by 5%, from 600 420 in 2016 to
628 751 in 2017. V.2078

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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