Massive visa backlog crippling South Africa 

South Africa is facing a massive visa backlog that is causing significant problems for skilled workers, tourists, and prospective retirees trying to enter the country.  

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has accumulated over 60,000 visa applications that it is struggling to process, and the backlog is not expected to be cleared until mid-2024 at the earliest. The DHA extended the validity of certain visa types to December 2023, but this excludes visas processed after March 2023, leaving many migrants at risk of becoming illegal residents if they overstay their visas.  

Immigration experts have criticized the DHA’s response as callous and lacking empathy towards migrants, raising concerns about the government’s motivations. The delays are blocking critical skills and foreign investment into the country, hindering economic growth. Stakeholders are ready to work with the government to resolve the issues, but it requires a more willing and efficient DHA. 

Read the full article here.