South Africa’s visa backlog has hit critical levels, with Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber calling the situation “abnormal.” The backlog, which soared to over 306,000 applications earlier this year, has been trimmed down to about 213,000. Despite this progress, Schreiber says more work is needed to get the situation under control.
Since taking office in June, Schreiber has put a special team in place, led by Elize Breytenbach, to tackle the issue. They’ve managed to cut the backlog by 30%, but Schreiber warns that further reductions are crucial to avoid extending the current concessions on visas and appeals, which have already been extended three times.
In one of his first moves as minister, Schreiber extended the concession period for foreign nationals awaiting their visa decisions. This extension allows them to stay in South Africa until the end of 2024, giving the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) more time to process applications.
The backlog problem has been escalating, with the number of pending applications jumping from 92,000 in January to over 300,000 by June. Former Minister Aaron Motsoaledi attributed the surge to specific visa categories that require extensive verification, causing significant delays.
Schreiber has made the visa backlog a top priority, requesting daily updates on its status. He emphasizes that clearing the backlog is essential for South Africa to remain competitive and stimulate economic growth. The goal set by the previous administration was to clear the backlog by November 2024—a target Schreiber is determined to meet, despite the ongoing challenges.
