Could I have approached South African Embassy without going through VFSGlobal for faster visa processing and news updates?

I just went through this question . Would it have been a good idea to visit the consul-general's office in Mumbai to apply for a short stay conference visa in South Africa or is vfsglobal the only option?
I am looking for better visa processing time and news updates and just realized that because I did it from Pune, it will take at least 7 working days to get any idea about the status.
Also, I haven't been able find a website for the South African Consulate-General in Mumbai. Only different links with the telephone numbers, fax numbers and such info. Is there an official site I could look at?
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Are visas being processed in South Africa?
Notice. The U.S. Consulates General in South Africa have resumed visa processing. Please follow the instructions on the link to the right, to schedule an appointment or to submit your visa application via courier.How do you know if my visa application is approved?
Check the Status of a Visa Application For nonimmigrant visas, call 1-603-334-0888. Or use the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).How long does VFS take to process visa application?
When will I get my visa? In most cases, you will be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful. Sometimes it can take up to 30 days if more time is needed, and up to 60 days in exceptional cases, for example if extra documents are required.How many weeks does South Africa visa take?
Four to 12 weeks, depending on where you submit When you submit your application abroad, you'll wait approximately 4 to 8 weeks on an outcome. This waiting time increases to 8 to 12 weeks if you submit your application in South Africa.How to get German Employment Visa within 20 days
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