I was recently speaking to a highly educated German woman who has been trying to get a work permit in South Africa. She told me that after 18 months of trying she was recently told that she could have to wait up to 8 years before her request is granted. Apparently this is due to the shambles at home affairs – they are just too far behind.

I wonder what economic impact this kind of inefficiency in government has. I remember a while back, a South African man became so frustrated with home affairs that he took a hostage in order to get his Identity Document!