Question NW107 to the Minister of Home Affairs
15 March 2018 - NW107
James, Ms LV to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to the reply to question 3517 on 24 November 2017, what number of foreign nationals (a) entered the country on (i) visitor visas and/or (ii) holiday visas in (aa) 2013, (bb) 2014 and (cc) 2015, (b) departed on or before the date on which their visas expired in the specified years and (c) of each nationality did not depart in the specified years; (2) What is the estimated total number of foreign nationalists who have not left the country once their visitor and/or holiday visas expired since 1994?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i-ii) Total recorded movements for traveller arrivals in 2013, 2014 and 2015 on visitors visas for holiday purposes.
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Total |
13 457 600 |
14 130 057 |
14 313 737 |
(1)(b) Total recorded movements for traveller departures in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Total |
13 774 965 |
14 803 240 |
15 196 891 |
(1)(c)(i) The top five nationalities who’s movements indicate they have not yet departed the RSA are:
COUNTRY |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
Zimbabwe |
127 095 |
163 906 |
179 739 |
Mozambique |
87 447 |
65 491 |
56 821 |
Malawi |
59 860 |
52 690 |
35 013 |
Lesotho |
24 137 |
20 569 |
19 337 |
Swaziland |
3 459 |
3 946 |
3 985 |
(2) Due to system changes the department is not able to provide this information since 1994. For 2016 a total of 177 450 persons who overstayed were declared undesirable. For the period in question the most common reasons cited for overstaying are based on medical grounds or applicants awaiting temporary residence visa extensions.