On Tuesday, after the Easter weekend, I went to Home Affairs and after quite a long time standing outside, we noticed that the queue was not moving. The security guards were standing at the entrance, not letting anybody in.
People were getting frustrated standing in the queue, which just got longer. We demanded to speak to a manager to find out what was going on. After a while the manager came and explained to us that the computers were down and they had reported the matter and were waiting for the IT guys to arrive. He informed us the matter was out of his hands and that there was nothing he could do about the situation.
He suggested that we go home and return the next day. The next morning we were allowed to go in and be seated. Guess what: the scanner for the fingerprints was not working and the problem was sorted out after about an hour and a half .
The telephone numbers that are on the wall outside do not work, or nobody is answering the calls.
Before I left, I went to the reception area to find out whether my passport had arrived and was informed that it had not.Well, as soon as I arrived home I received an SMS that my passport had arrived and that I could collect it. I had to go back the next day, which left me spending three days at Home Affairs .
More Home Affairs offices should be opened – perhaps one in the Leondale area or closer to where the new courts are.
I would also like to extend a big thank you to a very friendly and helpful lady, Mrs L Smith. This lady knows her job well and understands my language. This lady is an asset to Home Affairs and I wish there could be more people like her serving the public.
Mrs van Dyck
