The IFP in the KZN Legislature is appalled by the long queues at many Home Affairs offices in KwaZulu-Natal. People are forced to wait for many hours, often in the scorching heat.
At the Prospecton Home Affairs office in Isipingo, KZN, senior citizens, matric students and mothers carrying new-born babies are compelled to queue. There is no shelter from the elements and no explanation from officials. And this is only the 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.
Although employees appear to be doing their best at this office, it seems that the workload is too much for them to manage. This, 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 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 on 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 a 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.
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Contact
Mr Blessed Gwala
IFP Caucus Chief Whip in KZN Legislature
078 290 5842
