Due to the very long processing times presently being experienced with regards to visa applications the Department of Home Affairs issued a Directive that allowed applicants who had submitted visa applications to depart South Africa without being banned on their departure despite the fact that their existing visas had expired.

This concession was due to expire on the 30^th September 2022, but has now been extended until the 31^st March 2023. This is a welcome move although the Department of Home Affairs seems to have made so little impact on the backlog of visa applications that it had very little option but to extend the concession.

The decision to centralise the processing of visa applications (which is the reason for the backlog) has also now been reversed so there is some light at the end of the tunnel that the processing of visa applications should speed up. However, the fact that they have seen it necessary to extend the concession until well into 2023 should be an indication of the size of the backlog so long waiting times will most likely be experienced for some time still.