The Department of Home Affairs has announced that it will discontinue the issuing of Temporary Passports as from September 1, 2014.

A Temporary Passport was initially issued as an interim travel document due to longer turn-around times taken to issue a Permanent Tourist Passport valid for ten years.

This turn-around time has improved drastically, rendering the issuance of Temporary Passports redundant.

“The turn-around time for a passport applied for on our Live Capture system takes 13 days, while that applied for using the manual system is issued within 24 days.

“Emergency Travel Certificates are issued on the same day in consideration of the nature of circumstances presented as an emergency need,” departmental spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said.

The department has noted that South Africans traveling abroad and to the neighbouring countries are refused entry when traveling on Temporary Passports.

This, according to Tshwete, has resulted in accusations and claims against the department in cases where citizens are refused entry into a particular country despite being in possession of a Temporary Passport.

Tshwete explained that only an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) will be issued to an applicant under circumstances of emergency travel purposes such as when a passport that is lost while abroad and traveling to countries that accept ETCs for purposes of assisting family members in distress or if a family member is deceased.

According to Home Affairs, one must have a South African Identity Document when applying for a passport.

Zimbabwean Dispensation Special Permit

Recently, the department announced the new Zimbabwean Dispensation Special Permit (ZSP).

According to the department, this will allow permit holders who wish to remain in South Africa after their permits have expired to reapply for the ZSP, subject to certain conditions.

At the time, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said the conditions include a valid Zimbabwean passport, evidence of an employment permit, a business or accredited study, and a clear criminal record.

“Therefore if you hold a permit that expires before December 31 this year, the expiry of that permit being delayed until 31 December, we are extending it, and those that expire after that will be brought forward to December 31, which is the date for termination for all ZDP's,” said Gigaba.

So, far about 245 000 of the 295 000 applicants were issued with the new permits since its inception in 2009.