Basotho nationals running out of time to apply for permits

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that Basotho nationals have only 16 days to apply for SA-issued Lesotho Special Permits.

Johannesburg - The South African Department of Home Affairs on Thursday confirmed that the the last day for Basotho nationals to apply for SA-issued Lesotho Special Permits (LSP) will be on Friday 30 September 2016.

Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Thabo Mokgola said there would be no further extension after the initial closing date was moved from 30 June 2016.

“The Department urges those who have not applied to do so speedily, with only 16 days to go and they should visit VFS ‘walk-in’ centres where they will be assisted with their LSP applications,” said Mokgola.

Mokgola said that in November the department would gazette the names of all persons who had applied but did not finalise their applications and provide a one-month grace period to submit all outstanding information by 31 December 2016.

“People with passports expiring within the next two years and having the LSP visa in them, will use both their old and new passports. In these cases there would be no need to apply and pay for transfer of LSP visas,” said Mokgola.

He said South Africa had earlier granted amnesty to all Basotho nationals until 31 December to hand over fraudulent SA IDs at dedicated Home Affairs offices, and that those who complied would be eligible to apply for LSP with the application closing date.

“The Department will make these concessions applicable, people with Lesotho ID cards but without valid passports can apply for LSP by 30 September, they must provide their passports and those who have submitted a fully completed application form but have not paid for their visa can do so by 31 December 2016,” said Mokgola.

African News Agency