Dear Mr. Scheiber and Team,

I am writing to respectfully request your assistance regarding an unresolved passport matter that has caused considerable professional disruption, stemming from an administrative error by the Department of Home Affairs Menlyn.

During a visit to South Africa in December 2024, I applied for a new passport at the Home Affairs branch in Menlyn Mall, Pretoria, on 9 December 2024. I specifically requested that the passport be sent to the Canal Walk branch in Cape Town for collection, as I was scheduled to travel there before returning to the Netherlands on 27 December 2024. This request was acknowledged and confirmed by the official assisting me. Regrettably, the passport was not transferred as instructed and I was unable to collect it.

I am now residing in the Netherlands with an expired passport, despite having made every effort to resolve this matter well in advance. The only solution offered by Home Affairs Menlyn has been for me to return to South Africa for fingerprint verification, an impractical and costly option that would require significant travel and time away from work, all due to an administrative oversight for which no accountability has been taken, nor corrective action offered.

Despite numerous attempts to contact Home Affairs Menlyn via phone and email, I have unfortunately received no meaningful support. Calls are frequently dropped after extended wait times, and emails have gone unanswered for several months. I have also submitted a complaint to the Presidential Hotline, but have seen no accountability and resolution.

In an effort to move forward, I submitted a second passport application at the South African Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, on 29 April 2025. My previous passport expired on 2 August 2025. The Embassy has also ceased responding to my emails, and each follow-up requires a two-hour drive, one-way, and time away from professional commitments because the phone calls and emails go unanswered for months. The Embassy at The Hague has stated multiple times that they are unable to assist or to reach out to someone that is able to assist me with this matter.

Additionally, my Dutch residence permit is set to expire soon, and I require a valid passport number in order to apply for a renewal of my residence permit. This adds urgency to resolving the issue promptly.

Individuals Contacted Without Resolution:
- phillip.rambuda@dha.gov.za
- Harold.Mathebula@dha.gov.za
- Dumisani.Ntamela@dha.gov.za
- Ntebeng.Mokoditoa@dha.gov.za
- Nokuthula.Matshana@dha.gov.za
- TheHague.dha@dirco.gov.za
- Info.thehague@dirco.gov.za
- consular.thehague@dirco.gov.za

I am reaching out not only in the hope of achieving clarity and resolution, but also to respectfully request accountability for the oversight that led to this situation. With your support, I hope to secure my new passport, renew my residence permit in time, avoid any disruption to my legal status in the Netherlands and to help prevent similar experiences for others in the future.

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my request. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards
Stephan Lombard