There are, however, more reasons tourists come to our country.
South Africa has become increasingly popular among foreign English
language students and addiction rehabilitation patients.
South Africa’s tourism industry is growing. The latest Tourism and
Migration Survey by Stats SA shows that 2.6 million foreigners
passed through our ports of entry in November last year â€` a 3.9%
increase from November 2016.
Most of them (96.3%) came here on holiday, 0.4% visited South
Africa for study purposes and the rest were here on business.
While small, South Africa’s English language travel sector is
becoming a powerful contributor to the economy.
Last year, the 20 English schools belonging to Education SA
(EduSA) language travel association attracted 10 042 students, 15%
more than in 2016 and 43% more than in 2015.
“Each of them spends R6 146 for every week of their six-week
stay,” said Johannes Kraus, founder of the Kurus English school in
Cape Town and EduSA chairperson.
“Collectively, our students spent 61 268 weeks in South Africa in
2017.”
Based on these figures, EduSA’s students spent R377 million in
South Africa in 2017, or R37 497 each. Their per capita
contributions exceed the expenditures of conventional tourists.
The total contributions of South Africa’s entire language travel
sector were much higher, as the above data only applied to EduSA’s
20 members.
South Africa had between 35 and 40 serious language schools.
While South Africa’s language travel sector was thriving, things
could have been better had it not been for the visa debacle of
2014.
In that year, the department of home affairs decided it would no
longer issue study permits to students of institutions not
accredited by the higher education and training department.
As a result, EduSA’s student numbers plummeted from just over 10
000 in 2014 to 7 000 in 2015, said Kraus.
Students stayed shorter periods of time, around five weeks,
instead of the usual six.
“Four schools had to close their doors and others had to
downscale.”
Fortunately, Kurus was back at the level it was in 2014.
The fact that the home affairs department’s decision was
overturned in court played a huge role in the recovery.
“We have until the end of this year to get registered, said Kraus.
“Imagine if we hadn’t lost out. We could have had 15 000 students
by now.”
Another less visible group of economic contributors were foreign
rehab patients who were after a spot in one

of around 30 local
rehab clinics.
The Netherlands alone accounted for 3 000 of them. They come here
to deal with their addiction to substances such as alcohol and
drugs and for behaviours ranging from gambling to sex.
Mario de Wit, CEO of Dutch addiction care organisation GGZ
Interventie, said the Netherlands sent 250 patients per month to
South Africa.
“Each of them contributes €4 000 (R59 500) to the local economy
during their 32-day stay,” said De Wit, an addiction care expert.
The organisation had arrangements with five Cape Town-based
clinics that offered 32-day rehab and recovery programmes.
The Dutch contingent of rehab patients alone was worth R180
million per year.
“This is over and above creating 70 direct jobs in the five
clinics we have relationships with,” said De Wit.
The economic impact of South Africa’s entire rehab industry was
much higher and growing, he added. This was due to the
affordability and the quality of care.
“Addiction care is 65% cheaper in South Africa than in Europe.
This allows you to get treatment twice as long for the same
price.”
Most European medical aids covered addiction rehab. The reason was
simple: a recovered Dutch addict, for instance, would save the
Dutch economy around €1 million for the rest of his or her life
after recovery.
“These savings refer to fewer medical costs, costs associated with
social problems, crime prevention, police costs, increased
economic productivity and the impact of addiction on the patient’s
family,” he said.
The South African equivalent to this figure was R4 million, he
said.
While Europeans accounted for most foreign rehab patients, new
regions were making an entry. These included the Middle East.
“Addiction doesn’t officially exist in the Middle East because
drugs and alcohol are forbidden. That is why they come to South
Africa anonymously,” said De Wit.
Those coming here for treatment were mainly the elite in these
countries.
“They tend to go to a five-star rehab resort that combines
treatment for addiction, private bungalows, spas, golf and equine
training woven around their therapy. The rich don’t go to our
clinics, where people share rooms, sleep in bunk beds and are
there to deal with their addiction and change their mentality.” V.2626

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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