Extremely Terrible paid for Service

I app**** for the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit and paid a total of R1110 on Jan 11 which included an sms fee for updates. we were promised updates an an outcome in 6 - 8 weeks. Sadly it has now been exactly 5 months today and numerous followups always yield the response that the application was submitted to the Department of Home Affairs. No one ever explains the reasons for the massive delay. My life is literally at a standstill as i can not do anything until the outcome of my permit application as its a struggle to do any banking and any service requires i produce a valid identification document.