Dear Minister Schreiber,

I am writing to you as an employer deeply frustrated by the ongoing delay and lack of communication regarding two visa waiver applications submitted through VFS Global on 21 February 2025 at the George, Western Cape office.

The applicants, Mr Julius Balani and Ms Viola Machavangu, are Zimbabwean nationals who have both made every effort to comply with the legal process to regularise their stay and employment in South Africa.

Both individuals submitted all the required documentation and paid the significant fees requested by VFS Global on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs. However, eight months have now passed, and we have received no feedback or update. The online tracking system provides no information, and all attempts to follow up locally have failed.
I have emailed two Home Affairs officials at the George office, but both email addresses proved invalid and my messages were returned as undeliverable. I have also attempted to contact Mr Thobani Koplani telephonically, but his line goes directly to voicemail with no response.

It is incredibly disheartening that despite our efforts to follow the proper legal and administrative channels, we find ourselves with no means of obtaining information or progress on these applications. The applicants are fully committed to adhering to South African immigration laws, yet the lack of service and communication from both VFS and the Department of Home Affairs is making this impossible.

I fully appreciate the many priorities and pressures faced by your Department, but I respectfully request your guidance on how we might obtain feedback or assistance regarding these two applications. I am more than willing to provide copies of all supporting documents, proof of submission and payment receipts if that would assist in expediting a response.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I would greatly appreciate any advice or intervention your office can offer to help resolve this situation.

Yours sincerely,
Victoria van der Walt