The Angolan Embassy in Pretoria cannot process any visa applications due to the systems being down for over a week, causing hassles for those trying to travel to the country.
An embassy spokesperson says they are having a problem with the Internet connection, which is affecting their systems. They are unable to process any visa requests but hope the systems will be functioning by next week. They have asked visa applicants to apply at the Consulates-General of the Republic of Angola in Johannesburg and Cape Town while their systems are not operating.
However, travel consultant for Sure Travel Maritime Travel, Judi Castignani, says it is creating huge delays and is a costly exercise for clients who need to travel to Angola for work. She explains that many of her clients fly in from Port Elizabeth and only have one day to apply for their visa. If the systems are down, they waste money on the flights and the shuttle to and from the embassy.
It’s also not as simple as applying at the other consulates as the letters of invitation needed to accompany the visa application specify the details of the embassy or consulate where the application is taking place. Letters of invitation can take two weeks to be received and need to be re-done if the details specify the Pretoria Embassy in Pretoria.
“Every week they tell us to try again next week but this has been going on for nearly two weeks,” says Judi, “We would also like feedback with regard to what the problem is and if there is progress. Will our clients be able to receive their visas before the embassy shuts down for the holidays?”
