High Commission for the Republic of South Africa

Worst experience in my life. Over 3 weeks no communication at all. Phone goes to voicemail immediately, no one replies to an email. I have been waiting for my son's new passport so we can get a new VISA for him, the today I send an email out of frustration demanding someone update me , no surprise I receive a call 5 hours later , where they demand an apology from me for the email ? Hallo ..... no communication. First I am told the tracking is invalid ( this is because it is the return tracking they have not returned yet ) then I am told they moved offices , fair enough , so no one could reply to an email ? Oh wait 3rd excuse , they lost lots of emails. Mate... I have an email chain for 3 weeks asking for updates , using the same chain. Are you kidding. And then only because I did not apologise for saying they have terrible work ethic for not responding or updating me on everything. The person I am dealing with has now changed her mind , she will no longer be couriering the passport to me . instead she is wasting a whole afternoon asking where I sent the courier bag to. I am so frustrated with this whole experience. Who calls a customer demanding an apology after they are in the wrong ? It just confirms the terrible none service I have received. Her name has been removed from the email signature probably so I cannot name her. Ridiculous how much stress this is causing. My son is 5 years old. Will you be explaining to him why mom and dad couldnt get him a new visa ????

10/10 for the experience we had, very helpful staff. They were efficient and professional. Make sure, when you enter the building, you know how the lifts works, you need to know the number of the lift to get into that takes you to the correct floor, not every lift goes to the SA Embassy's Floor. Embassy Located on the 7th Floor, Masks are provided by the door, you need to wear a mask to be allowed in. Make sure you are on time, make sure all you paperwork is in order, everything stamped by the Justice of Peace. it took us about 45 minutes for completion. You can walk there from town, its not to far. Friendliness & a Smile goes a long way. ** GO BOKKE **

Awesome service, emails responded quick and detailed information on how to apply for child passport. Took 4 months which was really quick. I was informed when passport was ready and scheduled for delivery. Very impressed.

Honestly, I had all the documents I needed. I waited for my appointment. Staff were more than friendly

I mean , are they ok ? Now I'm worried for them honestly you call to you family and they don't answer you worried right, yeah I'm feeling Same here right now. I emailed to the office like a normal phone text, so repeatedly there's no reply . I have made calls for uncountable times, I mean we all know your office work culture back home but come on at least we can do better here in NZ. I'm trying to bring my daughter from South Africa since 2021 and I got no help . I gave up so many times and came back, now after couple of years my daughter emailed a couple of papers to sign on and an Embassy stamps is required I'm feeling hopeless again because I know they not going to answer their phones.I had a bad experience driving over with out booking appointments. Don't know what to do now . It's not a review , here, I'm looking for help

I have tried to call. I have emailed how many times. NZ Post also struggling to find out if you have received the parcel we have posted. Did you received my kids passport. What is the use of email or phones when nothing works?!!!!!!!!!

Great service! Thank you to Susana Strydom for going out of her way to give me exceptional service. Dankie vir alles.

I had to renew my South African passport and generally had a great experience. The High Commission honoured the appointment I had made a few months prior despite the date turning out to be the National Day of Mourning for the Queen. I found the application process streamlined and had my documentation handed in and my fingerprints taken in less than 15 minutes. I was fully expecting to have to wait the 6-12 months stated on the website and I was pleasantly surprised to have a call today informing that my passport was being couriered to me. My only gripe is that booking the appointment took quite a few phone calls before someone came back to me.

They deserve 0 stars tbh!! We have sent in a passport and trying to followup to see what's going, but no response to our emails and phone calls. I made 60+ phone calls today alone and still I keep hearing 'saboona' .... have a bloody waiting system or someone to answer emails. I was told that they r running behind in emails, surely not by 2 months! We want to travel overseas but our passport is SOMEWHERE

Wanted to write a review for the high commission to credit the fact that they were very helpful, professional and organised in my experience of them. The worst aspect of the whole process is the very long wait from booking an appointment to getting one (almost a year in my case) rather email them than phoning to book.The appointment went well, I found the agents very pleasant. They weren't happy with the passport photos that I brought with me (crummy quality from the Warehouse), but waited while I ran across the street to get new ones.They phoned to check my address before sending me my passport, and from appointment to receipt of new passport was 114 days, much quicker than the six months that they told me to expect.