Botha-Bothe, Aug. 16 — The Botha-Bothe Passport Office is battling a backlog of 4,338 passports awaiting printing, officials revealed during a visit by Parliament’s Law and Public Safety Committee today.
Passport officer Mr. Khotso Sepitla said the high demand for passports has overwhelmed the office, with printing delays leaving many applicants stranded.
“Each district is given a daily quota of between 20 and 100 passports to be printed. We are forced to prioritize emergencies such as mine workers and patients requiring medical care abroad. This makes it impossible to meet the demand, as more than 500 people apply daily while only about 30 passports are processed,” he explained.
He added that the backlog stretches as far back as April 2024, with some applicants still waiting for their documents.
Sepitla also highlighted another challenge: uncollected passports. He said many applicants from Botha-Bothe work in South Africa and, after applying, often return via porous borders without waiting for their documents. When passports are printed, relatives or friends attempt to collect them, which raises security concerns.
Another officer, Ms. Mamokholoane Mohloboli, said working conditions at the office are deteriorating. She pointed to broken walls, faulty chairs and tables, worn-out floor mats, and malfunctioning computers, which disrupt daily operations and contribute to staff stress.
Responding to the concerns, committee member Mr. Mothejoa Metsing assured officers that Parliament will engage relevant stakeholders to address the challenges. He noted that some of the problems, including passport shortages, stem from central government systems and require urgent intervention.
The persistent delays and difficulties in obtaining passports have led many to resort to using porous borders between Lesotho and South Africa. This issue was highlighted during a meeting of the Free State and Lesotho Cross-Border Crime Prevention Forum in Phoku.
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