14 weeks wait and cannot travel to Uk

Waiting 14 weeks for my temporary residence renewal. Phoned your helpline who are no help whatsoever. I don’t really need them to tell me it’s outstanding, I know that. Now i need to travel back to UK for family matters and m told that I can’t travel and if I do I will be banned from returning to SA for 5 years. Ridiculous as my wife and child are in SA.