Statistics SA released South Africa’s tourist arrivals for
November, which show a slight increase of 3%, with 875 172
overnight visitors compared with 848 966 recorded for the same
month in 2017, and up from October’s decrease of 2% with 862 046
visitors compared with 880 168 recorded in October 2017.
Of the 875 172 recorded in November, 256 537 were overseas
arrivals, representing a 1.3% decrease from 259 805 in November
2017. Out of the 862 046 visitors recorded in October 2018, 253
945 were overseas arrivals, representing a 4.9% decrease from 267
025 in October 2017.
Despite the overall decrease, tourism from specific countries
showed some growth, with the highest increase coming from India in
November 2018, with a growth of 25.6%, followed by Australia with
an increase of 11.8%. In October 2018, the highest increase for
tourists was from China with growth of 1.4% (9 204 in October 2018
compared with 9 076 in October 2017), followed by the US with an
increase of 1.1% (29 650 October 2018, 29 328 October 2017).
Some of South Africa’s key source market arrival figures for
November include:
• UK: 39 672 visitors in November 2018, down from 40 489 in
November 2017.
• USA: 27 374 visitors in November, up from 26 305 in
November 2017.
• Germany: 42 851 visitors in November, down from 45 558 in
November 2017.
• France: 20 063 visitors in November, down from 22 354 in
November 2017.
• Netherlands: 15 247 visitors in November, down from 16 371
in November 2017.
• Australia: 8 143 visitors in November, up from 7 284 in
November 2017.
• India: 9 315 visitors in November, up from 7 418 in
November 2017.
• China: 9 274 visitors in November, up from 9 000 in
November 2017.
• Brazil: 5 979 visitors in November, up from 5 482 in
November 2017.
• Canada: 6 870 visitors in November, up from 6 215 in
November

2017.
Tourism Update spoke to Kwakye Donkor, CEO of Africa Tourism
Partners (ATP) regarding South Africa’s arrivals. According to
Donkor, Cape Town’s dubbing of Day Zero created a negative
perception of SA as a tourist destination. Other contributing
factors include the perception around safety and security in SA,
as Donkor says this is still a major problem, as well as the
ongoing visa confusion.
Touching on the Indian and Chinese markets, Donkor adds: “India
and China have the biggest population of outbound travel,” and
therefore are both a vital source market for South Africa.
Given the November increase in both the Indian and Chinese
markets, Donkor says there are a few contributing factors at play.
South Africa being part of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa) has played a critical role and, with SA looking for
investment, specifically during the Forum on China-Africa Co-
operation (FOCAC) last year, and SA’s investment summit where Jack
Ma, Founder and CEO of the Alibaba Group, was present, has brought
heightened awareness and an increase of Chinese investment and, in
turn, business travel, which ultimately translates into leisure
tourism.
With this strength in collaboration and heightened awareness
around South Africa, Donkor says there is also increased optimism
about South Africa’s new leadership. Furthermore, Donkor says
South African Tourism’s consistent marketing efforts over the
years are starting to bear fruit in both the Chinese and Indian
market. In addition, Donkor says pricing still plays a role, as
the rand is still relatively cheap when compared with foreign
currencies.
With all this, Donkor expects to see increases from the UK and US
source markets too in the coming months. V.2735

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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