Students in visa trouble

Source: Michael Uugwanga – Informante, 23/07/2015

The South African High Commission in Namibia is allegedly tardy in
issuing visas and study permits to Namibian students to study in South
Africa.

This is after some parents accused the South African H/C in Klein
Windhoek of being obstinate in issuing travelling documents to the
students who were supposed to have been in that country for studies
some few months ago.
When Informanté called a cell phone number that was given by two
independent sources, one at the H/C and another a reputable parent of
a student stuck without a visa and study permit, for an employee at
the H/C by the name of Emma Ramokhele who is believed to be in charge
of issuing visas and study permits for students, she refused to be
drawn into the situation after denying both her names.
"Where did you get my cell phone number? This is my private number.
Why must I give you my surname. My name is Esla. You are interrupting
me please. Don`t call me again. Emma is working in another department.
I don`t have her landline or her cell phone number," said the person
before hanging up.
Meanwhile, a parent confirmed that Ramokhele seems to be the person
responsible for the problem.
"Ramokhele is not willing to help us. My child was supposed to have
been in South Africa already. I have written already a letter to the
line ministry of Higher Education in which I included Ramokhele but
she is playing mind games," said the parent.
A student by the name John Amutenya made a similar complaint on the
website of the South African High Commissioner in Namibia regarding a
study permit.
"I`m John from Namibia, I am admitted to college of Cape Town and I
will start on 31 August 2015, but I don`t have a study permit still.
What should I do to get study permit as soon as possible, please
help," said Amutenya.
Another concerned person, F.Nel, also raised similar concerns.
"Pathetic service at the embassy. We`ve applied for renewal of our
granddaughter`s passport on the 07th April 2015 at the South African
Embassy in Windhoek. We`ve made +/- 70 calls in 2 x week`s time to
come through to your office, just to be referred to another official
without any help and to hear the line to be hanged up in our ears,"
said Nel.
South African citizens stuck in Namibia due to theft of their
passports also complained about Ramokhele which they felt mislead them
by telling them emergency travel documents can only be issued in
Pretoria, South Africa.
They eventually found out from a source outside the embassy that one
only needs a police CR number of the theft case opened and a sworn
statement to be able to cross the border into South Africa.