Dear Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs,

I am writing to express my strong disappointment regarding the severe delays experienced at the Maseru Bridge border crossing into South Africa on Sunday, 27 September 2026

Upon arrival from the Lesotho side, it took three hours to enter South Africa. Despite the heavy volume of travellers, only one immigration officer was actively processing entries. Given that it was a Sunday on a long weekend coinciding with the Roof of Africa rally, this high volume of traffic was predictable, and adequate staffing should have been arranged. While a single official processed the line, several other staff members appeared to be present but were not assisting with processing.

Furthermore, the management of the queue was severely disorganized. The continuous prioritization of diplomatic passport holders and individuals requiring special assistance repeatedly brought the main line to a complete standstill, significantly increasing the wait time for everyone else.

As a South African citizen, I expect a far higher standard of service and operational efficiency at our national borders. I request an explanation regarding why staffing levels were so inadequate despite the predictable surge in traffic, and what steps are being taken to address these processing bottlenecks and improve queue management moving forward.

Sincerely,

Grant Neill