Waiting six months for passport

I’M wondering if anyone is able to assist me with regard to an urgent matter.

I have been living abroad for five years now and have applied for my new passport as my current passport has only one clean page remaining.

My friend and I made our initial application on July 12 last year as I had a lucrative job offer in Hong Kong starting in February this year, and she was planning to return home to see friends and family.

We have still not received our passports and after numerous inquiries with home affairs, the answer remains the same: “Sir, I’m not sure when you will get it”.

For me to reside in the country [where I am living] legally and engage in gainful employment, this document is an absolute necessity.

Furthermore, this delay in services is limiting my future job prospects, as well as my freedom of movement.

My concern is that I may encounter problems should I try to leave my current country of residence on vacation or a business trip as I may be unable to return.

Is this utter lack of transparency and service delivery the new standard?

I was under the impression that passports and the issuing of such documents were to be expedited, with an average of a two-week turnover time in such cases, yet there has been no clarity or assistance with this matter, more than six months later.

Could someone from the Department of Home Affairs kindly shed light on this matter?

Delon le Roux, by e-mail THE Herald has approached the Department of Home Affairs for a response. – The editor