Smart ID cards ready to be collected from Home Affairs

GOVERNMENT departments are slowly increasing the level of civic services they are able to offer at front offices during the current alert level of lockdown.

The government is encouraging residents to pick up smart ID cards previously applied for.

In an announcement by Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) last week, the services were explained in terms of the regulations offering clues for citizens in various communities how the national services run by departments would become available.

“The Department of Home Affairs wishes to outline civic services that are rendered at front offices in alert level 4 of the national state of disaster which had commenced on 1 May 2020,” said the statement issued by the department’s spokesperson, Siya Qoza on Wednesday, 20 May.

“The limited services were published in Government Notice No. R. 518 of 9 May 2020 together with directions on temporary measures regulating entry and exit from South Africa for emergency medical attention, return of SA citizens and repatriation of foreign nationals,” said Qoza.

“The services are rendered to citizens and other clients at civic services front offices across the country, between Monday and Friday, from 8.30am to 3.30pm.”

Limited services

The services which are being offered include birth and death registrations excluding late birth registrations, the issuing of temporary ID documents, reissuing of copies of lost documents, the collection of smart ID cards applied for before lockdown began in March and passports for those who require them to perform essential services.

“Births are registered at health facilities and local Home Affairs offices. Children not registered due to the (Level 5) national lockdown are to be registered at local Home Affairs offices, ” said the statement.

“Parents are therefore urged to visit their nearest Home Affairs offices to register these children, but to do so within the confines of what is permissible by the regulations in this period.”

Late registrations of births

While late registration of births are not being carried out during level 4 of the national state of disaster there is an allowance made for children born between 26 February and 3 May this year as long as they do not fall into the category of Late Registration of Birth.

“Children born from 4 May 2020 must be registered within the mandatory 30 days of birth,” said the statement.

Deaths

Deaths continue to be registered at local Home Affairs offices as was the case during Level 5 of the national state of disaster.

Temporary IDs

“Temporary Identity Certificates (TICs) are issued at local Home Affairs offices, on the spot. Those who had lost or misplaced their IDs may apply for the TICs in this period as no applications for IDs are accepted,” explained the statement.

Collection of Smart ID Cards

“On 15 May 2020, the Department had 411 390 uncollected smart ID cards,” said Qoza.

“It is imperative for citizens who had applied to collect their smart ID cards.”

The statement issued by GCIS sated that while no new applications will be accepted during this time, collection services are provided at all modernised live capture offices.

“Therefore, only those who had already applied should collect their smart ID cards,” said Ooza adding that the same applies to any green barcoded ID books still awaiting collection.

Reissues

Those who have misplaced or lost their birth and death certificates are able to have them reissued in alert level 4.

Passports

“Passport services will be available only to persons who are engaged in the delivery of essential goods across SA borders and those who are travelling outside of the Republic for medical services. They must provide, as supporting documents, original letters from the employer or medical practitioner indicating the need for medical attention outside our borders,” said Ooza in the statement.

Minimising risk

The rest of the statement by GCIS sought to reassure those using the services of the department’s plan to continue taking measures to control the spread of Covid-19 while providing the services at local offices.

“With the assistance of the Department’s provincial heads, senior management will continue monitoring the effective and responsible provision of the identified services in a manner that minimises the risk of staff and clients, exposure to infections. Skeleton staff, shifts and the rotation system will continue to be used as effectively and efficiently as possible,” it read.

Among the measures managers within Home Affairs offices are expected to comply with include the following protocols:

·Monitoring of social distancing by floorwalkers: 2 metre markings on the floor inside and outside offices.

·Using personal protective equipment: hand sanitisers at entrances and inside offices; and wearing of face masks by all officials and all clients.

·Limiting of the number of clients who get into an office, to ensure social distancing.

·Cleaning of offices, regularly, with disinfectants.

“Restrictions on services rendered are there to support the containment and management of the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19).  It is for this reason that limited services are being offered, with the imperative to ensure citizens are enabled to have access to essential services especially in this difficult time. All people in the country are encouraged to take every precaution to protect themselves and those around them from this deadly coronavirus.”

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

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