Does anyone know if you can travel on your South African passport while they are processing a new passport?

Question

Apparently it takes 4 months to get a new passport and I am allowed to keep my passport so was wondering if I can travel with it while I wait.

Answer 1

An unexpired passport can still be used even when a new passport was already being processed to replace it.

Answer 2

Generally you're supposed to send the most recent passport back with the application so that they can cancel it (and also as proof of who you are). If you don't send it back and it's still valid, you'll need to declare it lost/stolen and you may have to pay a fee as well as fill out some extra documents (possibly a police report for some nationalities). If you try to travel on that passport (after you've told the South African passport office (who will probably deactive the passport if you say it's lost/stolen) ) you'll find yourself haulled over to speak to some nice men, if you're lucky you won't get into trouble for fraud.

Just politely ask them if they can speed up the process because you need to travel on a certain date. They'll see what they can do and possibly see if they can pull a few strings.