Statistics SA recently released South Africa’s tourist arrival
figures for the month of September. According to the data, South
Africa’s arrivals show little to no growth, with an overall
decline in overseas arrivals of 1% year-to-date, welcoming 1 902
261 visitors in 2018 thus far.
The sluggish trend is evident in year-to-date arrivals with Europe
showing only 2% growth, North America 1%, and Central and South
America a 10% increase, however declines were noted from Asia,
which was down 3% year-to-date, having delivered 232 208 visitors
and the Middle East, 39 117 tourists to South Africa, a decrease
of 11% year-to-date.
Some of South Africa’s key source market year-to-date numbers
include:
• UK: 305 156 visitors, down 4%.
• USA: 285 307 visitors, up 1%.
• Germany: 224 406 visitors, showing no growth.
• France: 129 146 visitors, down 4%.
• Netherlands: 101 599 visitors, down 8%.
• Australia: 87 126 visitors, showing 0% growth.
• India: 70 558 visitors, down 5%.
• China: 72 752 visitors, down 1%.
• Brazil: 51 729 visitors, up 7%.
• Canada: 46 997 visitors, 0% growth.

Argentina showed significant growth, with 15 394 visitors year-to-
date, up 30%, and for the month of September, 1 198 visitors were
recorded, showing growth of 26% month-on-month. Italy carried on
its upward trajectory with a 9% month-on-month increase, recording
4 014 visitors in September 2018, compared with 4 604 visitors for
the same period last year. On the other end of the spectrum,
Portugal showed a decline of 20% year-to-date with 22 644 visitors
recorded, translating into an 18% month-on-month decline.
Key source market arrivals and their change from September 2017 to
September 2018 are as follows:
• UK: 28 126 visitors, down 3%.
• USA: 33 257 visitors, up 2%.
• Germany: 27 536 visitors, up 5%.
• France: 12 682, down 3%.
• The Netherlands: 11 086 visitors, down 9%.
• Australia: 12 770 visitors, down

4%.
• India: 6 443 visitors, down 16%.
• China: 9 347, up 2%.
• Brazil: 6 377 visitors, up 16%.
• Canada: 5 733 visitors, down 4%.
n 2017, Africa’s share of investment in travel and tourism was
US$28.2 billion, or 5.7% of total investment in the continent,
according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), 2018.
At the recent ‘Africa Travel Masterclass’, hosted by Africa
Tourism Partners (ATP), Christelle Grohmann, Director at Grant
Thornton, said: “South Africa is by far the biggest market (in
Africa) when it comes to tourist arrivals.”
However, Grohmann mentioned that even though South Africa had been
ranked number one for a number of years, the country had not
improved. “We are not very consistent when dealing with some
aspects. We need consistency in performance,” said Grohmann. “We
often give away more than we gain.”
According to Grohmann, the problem with Africa is its inconsistent
growth, often fluctuating drastically, adding: “So we gain one
year and give away the next year. You can’t build, can’t invest if
you don’t expect more of an up in the market.”
Long-term growth patterns will be moderate and sustainable over
time, however, she says: “At this stage for us to grow in Africa,
we can’t go moderate; we have to be much higher than the world is
growing for us to be able to achieve a significant share.”
International arrivals are expected to be more than 1.8 billion by
2030, and Africa is expected to get 7% of international arrivals
by 2030, however Grohmann posed the question: “Given what needs to
happen in the industry, is the growth enough in Africa?”
She touched on issues facing the country, and continent at large,
with one being infrastructure in air transport, which she deemed a
major hurdle for Africa, as it was expensive. V.2630

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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