I just wanted to pass along a couple of changes that I had not read about on this site when entering RSA.
1) You must have a blank page in your passport for immigration into RSA. This was announced several times before boarding and the gate agents checked the passports to see if indeed there was a blank page as you boarded. Was told this is a new RSA rule. However when we arrived in RSA the immigration officer put the stamp for my wife on the same page from one from Canada so don't know how strict they will be.
2) You no longer have to fill out immigration forms when entering RSA. If you have nothing to declare you walk right out into the waiting area. I was only going to hunt a few days so did not take a gun with me as I was borrowing a friends so was through immigration and picked up by our friends in about 15 minutes. I did not speak to anyone else about how customs was with guns but the other times I have been was not an issue. Do not think you need to pay the extra for the meet and greet services.

I think they use to say two or three blank pages in your passport. Never figured that out either because as you say the way they stamp it what difference does it make.

It has always been at least two blank pages and they are serious about it. Went over last year and they would not let my buddy in because all he had was a bunch of half pages. Turned him around and sent him back.

I was going to bring up Hutty's situation but he beat me to it. That was quite the deal. I never understood how your friend (who had obviously traveled a lot to fill up his passport pages) did not know about that regulation. Regardless, I would NOT travel without extra pages in my passport. Keep in mind any layovers where you want to leave the airport as you will need pages for those too.