Durban — The long queues at many Home Affairs offices in KwaZulu-Natal have left the IFP in the KZN legislature appalled.
IFP caucus chief whip in the KZN legislature, Blessed Gwala, said people are forced to wait for hours, often in the scorching heat.
“At the Prospecton Home Affairs office in Isipingo, KZN, senior citizens, matric students and mothers carrying newborn babies are compelled to queue. There is no shelter from the elements and no explanation from officials.
“And this is only part of the waiting process. Once they have made it past the first section of the queue, several more hours follow in a dilapidated, covered waiting area. Tragically, despite waiting all day, many people are turned away – without being helped – when the office closes,” Gwala said.
Employees appear to be doing their best at this office, he said, but it seems that the workload is too much for them to manage.
Gwala said that if one considers that this particular office services uMlazi and other semi-rural places like Mgababa and uMbumbulu, the township alone – located on the South Coast of KZN – is one of the largest in South Africa and is home to over 400 000 people.
“We have been told by a frustrated community member that she was turned away at Richmond and uMbumbulu Home Affairs offices. She was informed that for the past three months the offices did not have the necessary forms needed to apply for identity documents.
“Another woman, an unemployed parent of a matric student, alleges that she has paid more than R200 trying to get her son an identity document.
“Even if she is successful and completes the application paperwork, she will have to come back on another day and again wait many hours to collect the identity document.
“She is also concerned about the time her son is missing from his schooling. The parent says she did try the online application process but was unable to complete the forms as the system seems to have connection challenges.
“The IFP calls for a swift intervention at Home Affairs offices in KZN. This problem of long queues and the struggle to apply for essential documentation must be fixed immediately.
“It appears that there is a complete disregard for the principle of Batho Pele, the foundation of our public service, at Home Affairs. This is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Gwala added.
Last month, the Daily News reported that there were mixed reactions to the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Home Affairs and eThekwini Municipality.
A concern by various political parties at an eThekwini full council meeting was about the city footing the bill.
The MoU between eThekwini Municipality and the department expired on March 31, 2022.
A governance and human resources committee report stated there was a need to renew the MoU to maintain work relations and continue implementing projects undertaken jointly to improve service delivery pertaining to assisting citizens to obtain identity documents and smart cards at the eThekwini Sizakala centres.
Also, managing undocumented immigrants within the jurisdiction of the municipality. The MoU will be for a duration of three years.
The municipality will utilise volunteers to support this programme. They will be paid a stipend for out-of-pocket expenses.
The programme will entail empowering volunteers to build capacity and provide infrastructure for the issuing of essential documents to the poor and vulnerable groups, including youth and women.
Daily News