Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has urged South Africans to apply for and collect their identity documents.
The Minister was speaking at the opening of the new Home Affairs office, in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal.
“An identity document is key to accessing government services. Without an ID, you cannot be employed and access government services,” Gigaba said.
The Minister, who was accompanied by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and government officials, addressed a gathering at a local sports field after touring the new office and interacting with employees and people who came to access services.
Gigaba reminded the gathering that without an ID, one cannot vote in the elections.
“Government is doing everything in its power to ensure that all South Africans are able to access government services at their doorstep.
“As government, we are also doing everything in our power to do away with long queues. We want to ensure that people are able to access government services,” Gigaba said.
Home Affairs is also making headway with its modernisation programme. It has introduced eHomeAffairs to enable South African born citizens to apply for their Smart ID card and passports online.
“We know that filling in papers is tiring. We are now moving [with] technology,” Gigaba said.
Prior to the opening of the new office, the local community of Hluhluwe and surrounding villages were getting Home Affairs services at a small building not far from the new building.
Sizakele Mkhwanazi (34) expressed to SAnews her relief that they would now be able to access the full suite of Home Affairs services with ease.
“In the past, we could not do everything we wanted to do [at the old office]. We were often [told to return on certain] days to access some of the services,” Mkhwanazi said.
Vusmuzi Sithole commended the service at the new office.
“In the new building, services are quick and we don’t spend too much time waiting to be assisted. I’m also impressed that we no longer have to wait in long queues,” Sithole said.