I've heard that South Africans who can't make it to Australia directly use NZ as the stopover until, as you said, they can use the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangeme

I've heard that South Africans who can't make it to Australia directly use NZ as the stopover until, as you said, they can use the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement to move to Australia. I wouldn't be surprised if their (and others') ultimate goal is the US. That's the case with Canada, where my understanding is that FAANG offices are staffed mostly with those who cannot (and often will never get) a US visa, plus the odd local who doesn't want to move to the US for personal or family reasons.