The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is dealing with an overwhelming number of uncollected ID documents nationally, and the metro is no exception.
According to recent figures released by the DHA, in Ekurhuleni there are approximately 19 150 smart IDs and 1 528 green bar-coded IDs that have not been collected.
The metro is urging residents to collect their IDs so that they can register to vote during the voter registration period on January 26 and 27, 2019.
Furthermore, uncollected IDs hamper the metro’s service delivery programmes because residents cannot register for other municipal programmes, such as RDP housing and cannot collect their title deeds when they are available for collection.
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Among the services that the residents forgo due to lack of IDs are enlisting on the metro’s indigent database, for which they are entitled to free water, free electricity and indigent rebates in assessment rates.
To this end, the metro has entered into a partnership with the Department of Home Affairs to fast-track the collection of IDs.
The metro is providing transport to elderly residents, people living with disabilities, learners and military veterans, to collect their IDs.
Non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and churches have also been roped in to assist.
The metro is using its popular community outreach programme, Siyaqhuba, to advocate for application and collection of birth certificates and IDs.
At the Germiston Home Affairs office there are 2 607 smart IDs and 295 green bar-coded IDs awaiting collection.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
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