The short answer
Home Affairs now has a system where you can check the status of your application by SMS.
The whole question
I am a 25-year-old male. I matriculated in 2013. From 2014 to 2016 I studied at a TVET College. I never knew my parents. I was brought up by guardians.
In 2022 applied for an ID. It never arrived and I wrote my matric with my duplicate. When I followed up, Home Affairs said I must re-apply, but did not say why. I applied again but have still not received an ID.
Now I can't get a job because I have not got an ID.
The long answer
Thank you for your email about not getting your ID after applying twice – a horribly frustrating business.
Home Affairs now has a system where you can check the status of your application by SMS. You send an SMS to 32551 with the letters ID, followed by a space, followed by your ID number.
You can also contact them by email: hacc@dha.gov.za .If that doesn’t come up with anything, maybe you should just cut your losses and start again.
You have to hand in your completed application form in person at your nearest Home Affairs office. Home Affairs says that it has radically cut down the time it takes to get your ID in the post. They say allow two weeks from the date of your application to get your photo ID.

Illegal land occupation has been a very big problem in Pretoria east for decades now, with the evolution of more than two informal settlements, with dwellers being illegal immigrants. Tshwane metro will look to work with Home Affairs to combat illegal land occupation, illegal immigration and theft, according to FF Plus councillor and MMC for community safety in Tshwane, Grandi Theunissen. Theunissen said illegal immigrants, particularly those guilty of crime and illegal land occupation, will soon be deported to their country of origin. Illegal land occupation has been a very big problem in Pretoria east for decades now. He said Centurion and Pretoria east, have been besieged by land grabs and infrastructure vandalism allegedly at the hands of illegal immigrants. “The Tshwane metro and the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, agreed on Friday, September 6 to co-operate and address the problem. It is expected that a formal co-operative agreement will be entered into soon.” Theunissen added that the FF Plus discussed how to address several pressing problems, including illegal land occupation, crime, the sale of counterfeit goods, cable theft, illegal electricity connections and extortion, with Schreiber. He said syndicates are allegedly working with city officials, law firms and the deeds office to transfer properties to the names of criminals. “Large quantities of counterfeit goods are sold in Pretoria West, where many Somalis live, while drug trafficking is the order of the day in Sunnyside (known as Little Lagos), where mostly Nigerians live,” he said. Theunissen said Centurion and Pretoria east, where illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe and Mozambique are concentrated, led in cable theft and infrastructure vandalism. “In addition to helping with immigration control, the minister was also asked to help with immediate deportation, more stringent border control and investigating corruption at South African borders.” He said the FF Plus believes that other departments should also be involved in curbing the problem effectively. “The illegal hijacking of buildings in Tshwane must be stopped, so, the FF Plus is committed to eradicating the problem and the crime that goes hand in hand with it.” Recently residents of Garsfontein worried about the illegal land occupation and erection of structures along Garstfontein Road opposite Builders Warehouse. The residents stated that land grabbing also led to illegal dumping, which is an ongoing nightmare. They have raised concerns regarding this issue also being a major health and environmental hazard. Despite the efforts of organisations in the area to clean up the illegal dumping sites, the problem has escalated in some areas. Most worrying is the illegal dumping behind Plastic View between De Villebois Mareuil Drive and Mooikloof Ridge Estate, where the extent of the issue has become much more significant. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro recently established a task team which comprises various departments to look at several by-law enforcement, land invasion and illegal dumping. “As part of the intervention actions, the Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) By-law Enforcement section together with the Environmental Management Inspector and Waste Management officials, warned the informal recyclers illegally dumping waste along Garstfontein Road to remove it within 14 days.” Mashigo said furthermore, the department has developed an illegal dumping clearance schedule that focuses on the removal of builder rubble that is dumped along this route to prevent environmental degradation of this area. He said the city is inundated with illegal dumping, hence it is impossible for it to clear all the spots as soon as they are reported. This was the reason the Rekaofela campaign has been launched to invite the community to join hands with the city to fight illegal dumping, he added.

 European travelers visiting the UK without a visa will soon be required to pay a £10 (around $13) waiver fee. The new rules, which will come into effect over the next year, will see the UK’s electronic travel authorization (ETA) system, first introduced for Qatar nationals, expanded to include travelers from all other countries, including European Union citizens. The non-refundable fee will apply to all visitors to the UK, including babies and children, without a visa, or permission to live, work or study, according to plans announced by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. At present, citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are required to apply for an ETA before entering the UK. This will be extended to include most other nationals, including those from the US but excluding Europeans, in November. By next spring, the program will be expanded again to incorporate European nationals. “Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and mean that for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those traveling to the UK,” Cooper said in a statement. Jordanian nationals can no longer apply for an ETA to enter the UK, according to the UK government website. Visa waiver schemes are certainly not a new thing. The United States’ electronic travel authorization ESTA, which now costs $21 and lasts two years, was first introduced back in 2009. Meanwhile, the roll out of the European Union’s ETIAS, valid for three years, which will cost travelers 7 euros (about $7.50,) has been postponed to 2025. The UK formally left the European Union in January 2020.

Kuwait’s Central Agency for Remedying Illegal Residents’ Status (CARIRS) has revoked the citizenship of more than 10,000 people with dual nationality between 2011 and last month, the KUNA news agency has reported. According to the agency, the step is the result of a full decade of Kuwaiti efforts to address the dual nationality file, and comes as a culmination of a campaign that began last year to confront those who obtain Kuwaiti citizenship illegally. Almost 1,000 such people have been detected to date. Kuwait does not recognise dual nationality and children with dual nationality have two years after reaching the age of 18 to decide whether to retain Kuwaiti nationality or keep their other nationality. The Director of the Situation Amendment Department in CARIRS, General Muhammad Al-Wahib, told KUNA that 6,054 residents’ status had been changed to Saudi nationality; 1,188 to Iraqi nationality; 868 to Syrian nationality; 131 to Iranian nationality; 53 to Jordanian nationality; and 1,962 to other nationalities. Al-Wahib pointed out that these statistics include individuals who have parents or relatives who own documents from different nationalities and do not include those who have other relatives with proven nationality. He called on those wishing to amend their status to visit CARIRS in the Eastern Region, to settle their residencies and regularise their status according to the residency laws in force in Kuwait. The Gulf state has in recent years intensified efforts to amend the status of those residing illegally in the country.

South Africa is set to simplify travel for Indian tourists by introducing a 90-day visa waiver starting in January 2025. Along with the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, these initiatives aim to streamline the visa process and boost tourism significantly.
Great news for travelers from India and China! South Africa is taking significant steps to attract more Indian tourists by introducing a 90-day visa waiver starting in January 2025. The new policy aims to simplify travel for Indian visitors and is expected to increase the number of tourists from India.
Currently, only 16,000 Indian tourists visit South Africa annually, but the country hopes to raise this number to 100,000 by the end of the year.

This initiative tackles a major hurdle for South Africa’s tourism industry: attracting more visitors from India and China. Currently, Indian tourists make up a mere 3.9% of international arrivals.
What is the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS)?

In addition to the visa waiver, South Africa designed the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to simplify the visa process for tourists from India and China. Selected tour operators will manage group travel, allowing the government to fast-track visa applications and boost tourism.

Boosting Tourism with TTOS

The Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) has been designed to address challenges in South Africa’s tourism sector. Currently, Indian tourists represent just 3.9% of the country’s international visitors, a figure seen as insufficient for a growing market.

To tackle this, the Department of Home Affairs will collaborate with the Department of Tourism, the Presidency, and Operation Vulindlela.

Their joint efforts will make South Africa more accessible to tourists from India and China, ultimately driving growth in the tourism sector.

Simplifying Travel for Indian Tourists

The introduction of the TTOS and the 90-day visa waiver is set to make travel planning easier for Indian tourists. By simplifying the visa process, South Africa aims to position itself as a more accessible and attractive destination for Indian travelers.

Additionally, the government is planning to roll out an eVisa system for Indian tourists, further easing the application process and enhancing travel convenience.
How the TTOS Will Work

Under the new scheme, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs will invite selected tour operators from India and China to register. Approved operators will oversee tourists in their groups and manage their travel arrangements.

In return, the Department will fast-track group visa applications, marking the first use of such a system for tourists. A dedicated team will handle these applications to ensure swift processing and remove previous barriers that have deterred tourism from these markets.

Economic Benefits and Job Creation

Minister Schreiber highlighted the potential economic benefits of the TTOS, noting that a successful implementation could lead to significant growth in the tourism sector.

This increase in tourism is expected to create more jobs for South Africans, substantially boosting the economy. The initiative reflects South Africa’s commitment to becoming a top global tourism destination and making travel more accessible for visitors from India and China.

Looking Ahead

The Trusted Tour Operator Scheme is a promising step towards making South Africa a top tourist destination. With easier visa processing and a focus on group travel, more visitors from India and China can experience the wonders of South Africa.