[2] In May 2010 it was reported that the Department of Home Affairs had not paid its bill to the Government Printing Works, leading to a delay in the issuance of new passports, and that the department faced lawsuits from "people erroneously declared dead, people whom they failed to issue with identity documents and others arrested after their IDs were used in a fraudulent manner".

[3] In the same year, the department was being sued for R 5 billion for various breaches of terms and contracts.

[6][7][8] In January 2011 the department was criticised for its inefficiency, particularly in regard to processing documents.

Eye Witness News reported that it would take two years to process visa requests from Zimbabwe citizens applying for work and study permits.

[9] The Sowetan reported in January 2011 that a South African citizen has unsuccessfully tried to attain an identity document for four years.