The Department of Home Affairs has announced that it will only resume the processing of permanent residency permits in South Africa from next year.
In a gazette announcing the department’s adjusted level 4 lockdown changes, Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that permanent residence permit applications will now only resume on 1 January 2022.
Experts have warned that the delayed processing will come at a significant cost for South Africa – as it will effectively block applicants from entering the country for an extended period of time.
