South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, says increasing jobs
and ease of access in the tourism sector is possible.
“Whatever we do in tourism, regarding increased arrivals, translates
into a large number of jobs as it is an employment-intensive industry.
It is not difficult. If we do the right things, it is achievable,” says
Hanekom.
During the Power Lunch interview with CNBC Africa on March 9, Hanekom
was responding to a question on the State of the Nation Address (SONA),
in which President Cyril Ramaphosa alluded to doubling jobs in tourism
from 700 000 to more than half a million.

Minister Hanekom also referred to the call by the President during his
SONA to grow the economy by removing regulation barriers. He said if
South Africa could make it simpler for international tourists to visit,
the country would see an increase in tourist arrivals.
“Our challenges are: intensified marketing and making it easier for
tourist to get to South Africa. This will translate into a large number
of jobs, which will make a huge difference in [tackling] our
unemployment,” said Hanekom.
He went on to emphasise the importance of discussions between the
Departments of Tourism and transport on sufficient

airlinks and direct
routes between SA and other African countries, as part of making it
easier and more affordable for people to visit SA.
As part of reducing barriers for travellers, Hanekom also said
engagement with the Department of Home Affairs was critical in three
areas �` the regulations impacting on minors visiting SA; ease of
obtaining a South African travel visa; and reviewing the countries that
need visas for travel to SA.
“When the visa requirement for Russia was waived, we saw an increase of
over 50% of travellers from Russia to South Africa,” said Hanekom,
adding that when visas were introduced for New Zealand travellers to
SA, there was a 17% decline in visitors. “The only reason for the
decline in the numbers from New Zealand was the visa requirement.
Therefore the engagement with Home Affairs is critically important,”
concluded Hanekom.
This was recently reinstated by a poll conducted by Tourism Update,
where readers voted on whether the implementation of electronic visas
(e-visas) would have a positive impact on arrivals into SA. 89%
voted ‘Yes’, whilst only 11% voted ‘No’. V.2155

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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