Labour department claims

I have app**** for my Uif online on the 20th December 2020 I have called the call centre almost once a week ever since. Some days I couldnt get through and I've even been placed on hold for 1h30 minutes. Ive visited the labour department as scared as we all are to go to such places during this pandemic its 10 timed worse when you have a very weak immune system but I had no choice because I have been waiting 6months without any feedback despite being told numerous times I would receive a call my Ufilling status remains unchanged since 20th December 2020 I have emailed the online uif complaints department, I have emailed people who work at the department itself and no reply whatsoever. When I finally got to the point where they process your claim I was asked for a declaration letter can you believe it. While at the labour department I contacted my previous place of employment only to be told it would take about a week because there are two companies involved it has been 3weeks I have emailed both departments and it seems as if I'm just being a pest I am so confuse and desperate just for proper service or valuable feedback I cant understand why a declaration letter takes this long or why the labour department call centre couldnt tell me that I needed a declaration letter sooner. plus I have been told that online application are not valid I can't understand how that could be true why do they exist in the 1st place.