PRESS RELEASE

MINISTERIAL GUIDLINES FOLLOWING COVID-19 REGULATIONS 2020

Following the adoption of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 enacted according to section 43 of the National Disaster Management Act 1 of 2006, the Ministry of Home Affairs hereby sets the following guidelines in term of section 32 (10) C of the COVID-19 Regulations.

The Ministry shall provide minimal services as follows during the partial lockdown period to reduce the spread of coronavirus:

• New temporal residence permits and new visas issuance remain suspended during this period.
• Passports and Travel Documents issuance is suspended.
• Foreigners who are in this country whose days have elapsed will have their days extended after the expiry of the lockdown without a penalty.
• Temporal Residence Permits expiring within the lockdown period will not attract a late renewal penalty after the lockdown.
• Process current registration of vital events - birth, marriages, death, and National Identity Documents (16 years).
• All other Civil Registration services are suspended (late registration of vital events birth, Marriage, Death, National Identity documents above 16 years, conversion of all certificates, application for alterations, change of surname, outreach programs, authority to marry inside or outside the country etc.)
• Interviews for new Asylum Seekers are suspended.
• Registration of new Asylum Seekers shall take place following section 16(8) of the COVID-19 regulations 2020.
• Renewal of status for Asylum seekers and Refugees is suspended. Expiring Permits are extended for a period not exceeding two (2) months.
• Non-Governmental Organisations and Religious groups should adhere to the COCID-19 regulations in full.
• All suspended services considered as emergencies shall be directed to the Head Quarters in Mbabane.

Though, the Ministry will continue to deliver excellent services, the public is advised to adhere to the above rules to avoid disappointment in our offices. Over and above, the Ministry wishes to encourage Emaswati to take all necessary precautions as advised by the Ministry of Health during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Released by: Minister for Home Affairs HRH Princess Lindiwe

Date: 31^st March 2020