Based on recent customer reviews, Department of Home Affairs struggles significantly across all service dimensions. While a small number of bank-based branches and individual staff members receive glowing praise for efficient, friendly service, the overwhelming majority of experiences describe severe delays, unresponsive communication channels, broken online systems, rude or indifferent staff, and applications lost or stuck for months or years. The department's digital transformation efforts are hampered by persistent system outages and booking failures.
Top Strengths:
- •Service Delivery & Staff Conduct: A small cluster of bank-partnership branches such as ABSA Stellenbosch, Nedbank Rivonia, FNB Lynnwood, and Cresta consistently deliver fast, friendly, and professional service that citizens describe as surprisingly positive.
TrustIndex
2.0
Score
NPS Score
-81
Recommended: Unlikely
Apr '25 - Mar '26
Recent reviews (300)
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Share Your ExperiencePopular mentions
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Humble request to update my divorce status
I got divorced in 2022 but I never updated status at home affairs, I thought automatically the court would update home affairs but this was not the case. I have a wedding coming up at month end, everything is already paid for and invites are out, it is impossible to postpone. I submitted the divorce decree at Centurion home affairs recently and they said updating my divorce status could take months. I do not have the luxury of months. Please could you expedite this process so that our ceremony month end can go ahead. Please. Jacob Hlongwane. ID: 890614 5313 086 Divorce case number: 2022/16087 (JOHANNESBURG HIGH COURT). Cell: 083 350 5577.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Humble request to update my divorce status
I got divorced in 2022 but I never updated status at home affairs, I thought automatically the court would update home affairs but this was not the case. I have a wedding coming up at month end, everything is already paid for and invites are out, it is impossible to postpone. I submitted the divorce decree at Centurion home affairs recently and they said updating my divorce status could take months. I do not have the luxury of months. Please could you expedite this process so that our ceremony month end can go ahead. Please. Jacob Hlongwane. ID: 890614 5313 086 Divorce case number: 2022/16087 (JOHANNESBURG HIGH COURT). Cell: 083 350 5577.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Great Quick Service
The first time I visit Orlando home affairs was back in 2007 when I First app**** for an ID Document and the process was quick. Less than an hour. I visited Orlando again this year to apply for a smart card. Both when applying and collecting I Pend less than an hour again... I'm really proud of the staff and management for the consistency
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Great Quick Service
The first time I visit Orlando home affairs was back in 2007 when I First app**** for an ID Document and the process was quick. Less than an hour. I visited Orlando again this year to apply for a smart card. Both when applying and collecting I Pend less than an hour again... I'm really proud of the staff and management for the consistency
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
HOPELESS
Hopeless unfriendly this department needs to be shut down please make all banks in all major centres agents of DHA..not nearly enough banks with DHA access... STEP IT UP..none ABSA branches in Pietermaritzburg with DHA access WHY?????...on line DHA is hopeless unreliable junk..throw it away
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
HOPELESS
Hopeless unfriendly this department needs to be shut down please make all banks in all major centres agents of DHA..not nearly enough banks with DHA access... STEP IT UP..none ABSA branches in Pietermaritzburg with DHA access WHY?????...on line DHA is hopeless unreliable junk..throw it away
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Home affairs slots not available in ALL BRANCHES, ALL DAYS for finger printing after payednonline application
Applying online is a waste of time, because after applyng and paying, one does not get a fingerprint slot. IN ALL DAYS , IN ALL BRANCHES LISTED(which are reduced). For 2 months I've been trying! What is one to do now, seeing that the system cancels your application after 60 days and you lose your money? One might as well do a branch booking mos(which defeats the purpose of reducing branch numbers) 😏
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Home affairs slots not available in ALL BRANCHES, ALL DAYS for finger printing after payednonline application
Applying online is a waste of time, because after applyng and paying, one does not get a fingerprint slot. IN ALL DAYS , IN ALL BRANCHES LISTED(which are reduced). For 2 months I've been trying! What is one to do now, seeing that the system cancels your application after 60 days and you lose your money? One might as well do a branch booking mos(which defeats the purpose of reducing branch numbers) 😏
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Another Dept of Home Affairs foul up
Concerning RSA passport and ID renewal for some of my family currently in the UK I needed to speak telephonically to someone at Home Affairs in Caledon concerning the collection from there of these now ready documents by my daughter who lives the closest in Herm****. The listed phone number on line for Caledon 082 470 4347 rings once, then immediately goes to engaged. So I try the next nearest branch at Bredasdorp tel no: 028 050 0319. That number doesn't even ring - nothing, dead. But it's listed on line by Home Affairs. Then I try Maynard Mall branch in Wynberg, Cape Town tel no: 021 763 6400. This just rings for ever. Again a listed number, but no one there will apparently pick up a ringing phone. Next, in massive frustration, I try phoning DHA at their Pretoria HEAD OFFICE tel no: 012 406 2500. It rings for a few seconds then goes to engaged. To cap it all the listed number for the Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber 012 432 6605 which I tried many times is permanently engaged! And this is supposed to be a new, slicker, more user friendly government department since Schreiber took over the reins. Really? The problem is that like so many disinterested, sloppily run and poorly managed organizations they all have forgotten that a phone call is or should be, if responded to responsibly, an INSTANT/IMMEDIATE means for person to person communication. Yes, faster than email, sms messaging AND LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF SITTING IN A QUEUE at a DHA office. But manning phone lines and having enough lines or putting more in to keep pace with demand is like asking these outfits to do what for them is seemingly so difficult, namely to provide the tax payers of this country who fund these operations a decent level of public service. Or is simply a case of "we couldn't care less about your being unable to communicate with us. Go away"? Words fail me. This sort of rotten service is a perfect example of why many here in RSA are so fed up with this country and why so many who can afford to do so want to get out. The tragedy is that the poor people here cannot afford to jump ship to somewhere where they will get looked after way better than here. Come on DHA - get your skates on and sort out this mess!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Another Dept of Home Affairs foul up
Concerning RSA passport and ID renewal for some of my family currently in the UK I needed to speak telephonically to someone at Home Affairs in Caledon concerning the collection from there of these now ready documents by my daughter who lives the closest in Herm****. The listed phone number on line for Caledon 082 470 4347 rings once, then immediately goes to engaged. So I try the next nearest branch at Bredasdorp tel no: 028 050 0319. That number doesn't even ring - nothing, dead. But it's listed on line by Home Affairs. Then I try Maynard Mall branch in Wynberg, Cape Town tel no: 021 763 6400. This just rings for ever. Again a listed number, but no one there will apparently pick up a ringing phone. Next, in massive frustration, I try phoning DHA at their Pretoria HEAD OFFICE tel no: 012 406 2500. It rings for a few seconds then goes to engaged. To cap it all the listed number for the Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber 012 432 6605 which I tried many times is permanently engaged! And this is supposed to be a new, slicker, more user friendly government department since Schreiber took over the reins. Really? The problem is that like so many disinterested, sloppily run and poorly managed organizations they all have forgotten that a phone call is or should be, if responded to responsibly, an INSTANT/IMMEDIATE means for person to person communication. Yes, faster than email, sms messaging AND LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF SITTING IN A QUEUE at a DHA office. But manning phone lines and having enough lines or putting more in to keep pace with demand is like asking these outfits to do what for them is seemingly so difficult, namely to provide the tax payers of this country who fund these operations a decent level of public service. Or is simply a case of "we couldn't care less about your being unable to communicate with us. Go away"? Words fail me. This sort of rotten service is a perfect example of why many here in RSA are so fed up with this country and why so many who can afford to do so want to get out. The tragedy is that the poor people here cannot afford to jump ship to somewhere where they will get looked after way better than here. Come on DHA - get your skates on and sort out this mess!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
DHA is BROKEN and still operating on the DARK AGES!!
What an ABSOLUTE MESS the DHA online systems and "processes" are!! I am trying to apply for a passport renewal. So, I tried registering on the DHA website/portal in order to capture my application online. IMPOSSIBLE TASK. I NEVER RECEIVE THE PIN THAT SHOULD BE SENT TO MY PROVIDED CELL PHONE NUMBER so I can complete the process of REGISTERING. I have sent DHA emails requesting help with this. NO HELP FORTHCOMING! So I tried to go to a DHA "satelite" branch - in CRESTA, Johannesburg. 1) they only help a VERY LIMITED NUMBER of walk-in daily. so 2) one is told to BOOK AN APPOINTMENT, which I tried to do..... IMPOSSIBLE! The WWW.DHA.GOV.ZA online booking DOES NOT WORK! The only response I have had from it is "NO SLOTS FOUND" - and I have tried to book for both Cresta or Menlyn, and for ANY DATE IN MARCH!! So I was told by the "MEETER GREETER" or "GREETER MEETER" at Cresta that one can book ONLY FOR THE CURRENT DAY, and you have to BOOK FROM 6am (I assumed that is the time the bookings open) but tried this morning, before 6am and after 6am and still NO LUCK, all I get is "NO SLOTS FOUND"!! What an ABSOLUTE CIRCUS DHA is! So much for "GOING ONLINE"! An ABSOLUTE ******** to say the least! So now, the ONLY OPTION OPEN to me is to GO QUEUE OUTSIDE A DHA branch in the hopes of being one of the SELECTED FEW THAT WILL BE SERVED THAT DAY - just like it is still PRE-INTERNET DAYS!!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
DHA is BROKEN and still operating on the DARK AGES!!
What an ABSOLUTE MESS the DHA online systems and "processes" are!! I am trying to apply for a passport renewal. So, I tried registering on the DHA website/portal in order to capture my application online. IMPOSSIBLE TASK. I NEVER RECEIVE THE PIN THAT SHOULD BE SENT TO MY PROVIDED CELL PHONE NUMBER so I can complete the process of REGISTERING. I have sent DHA emails requesting help with this. NO HELP FORTHCOMING! So I tried to go to a DHA "satelite" branch - in CRESTA, Johannesburg. 1) they only help a VERY LIMITED NUMBER of walk-in daily. so 2) one is told to BOOK AN APPOINTMENT, which I tried to do..... IMPOSSIBLE! The WWW.DHA.GOV.ZA online booking DOES NOT WORK! The only response I have had from it is "NO SLOTS FOUND" - and I have tried to book for both Cresta or Menlyn, and for ANY DATE IN MARCH!! So I was told by the "MEETER GREETER" or "GREETER MEETER" at Cresta that one can book ONLY FOR THE CURRENT DAY, and you have to BOOK FROM 6am (I assumed that is the time the bookings open) but tried this morning, before 6am and after 6am and still NO LUCK, all I get is "NO SLOTS FOUND"!! What an ABSOLUTE CIRCUS DHA is! So much for "GOING ONLINE"! An ABSOLUTE ******** to say the least! So now, the ONLY OPTION OPEN to me is to GO QUEUE OUTSIDE A DHA branch in the hopes of being one of the SELECTED FEW THAT WILL BE SERVED THAT DAY - just like it is still PRE-INTERNET DAYS!!
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
ID application cancelled, Unabridged birth certificate no record
I have a challenge with home affairs from last year 7th month I app**** for the ID card for my daughter Ofentse Motsisi with ID was cancelled,even now I am not assisted,they requested in October 2025 that I need to submit unabridged certificate which was app****,till now no record on system I went November the guy mentioned that we changed the date of birth,and when I ask he rub it off,my daughter finished matric she can't further her studies because ID is required. Please assist or advice of how to go about it Siamisang Motsisi
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
ID application cancelled, Unabridged birth certificate no record
I have a challenge with home affairs from last year 7th month I app**** for the ID card for my daughter Ofentse Motsisi with ID was cancelled,even now I am not assisted,they requested in October 2025 that I need to submit unabridged certificate which was app****,till now no record on system I went November the guy mentioned that we changed the date of birth,and when I ask he rub it off,my daughter finished matric she can't further her studies because ID is required. Please assist or advice of how to go about it Siamisang Motsisi
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Department of Home Affairs Portal a failure
After multiple tries still can't login into the Department of Home Affairs portal. The OTP is never received. Such a disappointment after hearing at SONA that the portal was so fantastic but seems to fail dismally.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
Department of Home Affairs Portal a failure
After multiple tries still can't login into the Department of Home Affairs portal. The OTP is never received. Such a disappointment after hearing at SONA that the portal was so fantastic but seems to fail dismally.