Thanks for the replies, reflecting interesting points and particularly vis a vis domestic South African perspectives on the matter. My reason for asking (I fully know how SAA has had to retrench due to financial matters and incompetent management over the years) is that nobody I know here in Canada or the US has the least bit of interest in visiting Johannesburg. Everyone wants to do Cape Town (and nearby wine country). They are put off by the horrendous connection (including 2-hour waits to clear immigration at JNB) required at that hub, and thus would rather connect somewhere else and then fly directly to CPT. Tourism to SA is no longer focused on visiting a wildlife reserve/doing a safari. Just think SAA is losing a lot of potential (and lucrative J) business by flying nonstop from NAmerica to CPT, let alone from at least LHR and FRA.