Handwritten visas and asbestos: Report exposes crisis in SA's European embassies

The operational challenges of South Africa's embassies in Europe have been laid bare in a parliamentary oversight report.

The challenges include the lack of information technology (IT), which means many missions are issuing handwritten visas.

On the other hand, budget constraints are impacting maintenance and repair to many aging embassy buildings and chanceries, while in The Hague, staff are working from home to avoid health risks associated with asbestos.

In November, the International Relations Portfolio Committee met with South African ambassadors and diplomatic staff in Brussels to assess not only their diplomatic work but the state of their offices.

Many of them have complained of the same operational issues affecting their ability to deliver consular services.

Heads of Mission say due to staff shortages, they are struggling to keep up with the growing number of South Africans, many with dual nationalities, seeking civic services in many parts of Europe.

In London, where government owns six properties, they are in much need of refurbishment and maintenance, while budgets are insufficient to upkeep the heritage buildings in which several missions are located.

The mission in Ireland has reported significant operational challenges saying there had been no Information and Communications Technology (ICT) modernisation, and with no working visa printer, it is one of several embassies including Greece and Portugal, writing them out by hand.

The committee is recommending that the Minister ensure structural, financial and administrative obstacles that require urgent attention in the missions abroad be addressed within one month of the National Assembly's adoption of the report and that quarterly updates be provided on steps taken to remedy the situation.

The report is expected to be put before the House in the new year.