Many visitors to South Africa are issued with a 90 day tourist visa.  If the tourist wishes to extend his/her stay in South Africa, then an application needs to be made 60 days before the expiry date of the current visa. 

An extension to a tourist visa is not granted automatically, and the applicant needs to provide written reasons as to why the tourist visa should be extended. The application for extension must also show proof of a valid flight return ticket.

It is also important to note that the tourist visa is granted once and at the end of the extension period the visitor must leave South Africa.  The tourist visa extension can be applied in person at a VFS office but it is important that all paperwork is filled in correctly and letters of motivation correctly drafted to avoid a refusal of the application.