Dear Mr Schreiber

Firstly- congratulations on your appointment.

I am writing as our family is trying to get back to South Africa for December and SA embassy in London is poor in help.

We applied for appointments for our sons on 9 February - and we are still waiting.

We need to renew SA passports as they expire in October. To complicate the issue further, our sons now need ID before passport renewal as they are over 16.

Hence applying in Feb.

The SA Embassy takes over a month to reply to emails and the office for appointments are only opened for 3 hrs a day- therefore realistically taking on 3 people a day. No one answers the phone.

Early on in the process, I was asked for documents and chosen dates via email. This was all sent timely- by the time they responded - all appointments booked. Then I was asked to book via online - daily we go onto this site and already no booking viable this entire year.

We cannot return home. Bottom line. I am curious as how this will eventually right itself?

I am happy to email the communication from the Embassy to verify our position.

I kindly ask, not for preferential treatment, but what would be deemed as fair - and perhaps and end to our frustration and fear.

I thank you in advance for any help and or suggestions,

Kind Regards

Cathy Gee