Outcome delay for more than 8 months

I have app**** for an extension of my study permit in October 2014 at VFS offices in Brooklyn, Pretoria, my application was sent to DHA Pretoria and I got a rejection due to police clearance certificate. I made an appeal with the original police clearance certificate in November 2014. It's now over eight months and the VFS tracking website still says: \Application ... has been forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs for adjudication on 02-Dec-2014". My visa already expired by end of Dec 2014. I can't go outside South Africa. I am a student and I have to participate in international conferences and workshops but not possible because of my visa. I missed a lot of things. I personally went to VFS and they blamed DHA and I have tried to contact DHA multiple times but no one ever got back to me and I'm still waiting. I wonder why they don't treat us fairly and provide us with our permit outcomes timely. I am due to travel out of South Africa at the end of September and coming back to study by end of October. I really don't know what to do."""