I challenge anyone to beat my week! Spent my birthday in Home Affairs in Bloemfontein, only to be told I need more documents from the UK (costing £55 plus R120 postage) to re-apply for permit. Told could only extend my visa in Pretoria. Drove c. 8 hours to Pretoria, to be told to stand in the hundred long queue. Eventually told am at wrong office. Drove to other side of Pretoria to be in another queue for hours, to be told (by bored yawny man) I should have been in Bloemfontein, but for R7000 in cash could extend, but would need to go to back of queue again, by which time office closed. Visa ran out yesterday. So drove across the country (8 hrs) home, then to Lesotho (another 4 hours, another country), spent a horrible night in a sleazy noisy hotel (not cheap). Drove back home this morning. All sweetness and light at the tiny border post, though. Legal for another three months. Ironically, listened to the radio in the car. All about how great SA Home Affairs think they are. Home now to find my fruit trees stripped by birds. But hey ho, Im legal.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 12:46:40 +0000