ehomeaffairs passport application mayhem

#BlackFriday For the past three days, I have tried to log into the ehomeaffairs website to apply (not renew) for a new passport. I have more than 6 months of validity but wanted to do it now since a passport must have more than 6 months validity when you fly to many countries. Day 1 I was in the middle of filling out the application when the website crashed with the whirling circle. I then got an error that the website wasn't responding due to congestion ie their system can't cop with demand. Day 1 night I tried again but it showed that the "system was offline." Day 2 I tried again during the day, but the page wouldn't even advance from entering my credentials to sending me the OTP. Day 3 I tried after 9pm and was able to access the website and start the application process. However after filling in the application, I then proceeded to the payment section only to told that I needed to pay a R600 penalty fee on top of the R600 for the new passport ie they wanted to bill me R1200! There was no explanation about this penatly on the website, so I had to Google it to find out that if you try to apply for a new passport when your existing passport has more than 6 months of life on it, then you have to pay a R600 penalty. I mean how ridiculous. This website is dysfunctional When you try to call the contact number you get a message that the number is not working. I read that with South African passports you don't renew your passport but you have apply for a new passport from scratch. The DHA need to fix their systems!