(1) Given that it can take several months to get an appointment to apply for a passport and then 12 to 24 months to process such applications, what plans are in place to reduce this unacceptable turnaround time;
(2) whether he has considered an online application system for passport renewals from overseas countries with a large number of South African citizens with biometrics to be done at the relevant offices of his department at a South African consulate, embassy, mission and visa and/or permit facilitation centre; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW3245E