WATCH: Clermont woman’s ID nightmare continues

SIMANGELE Mavundla, a 63-year-old woman from Clermont said she has never experienced joy in her life as she continuously faces one heart-rending challenge after another.

The complete lack of sparkle in her tired eyes together with the heavy stoop of her shoulders personify a deep hopelessness that recovery seems nigh impossible.

Mavundla’s ‘home’ does not have a roof, windows or walls and her biggest challenge is that she does not have an ID which she has been trying to get for years without any luck.

ALSO READ: No ID for Clermont woman (60)

In 2014, the Highway Mail published a story about Mavundla who has never had a job and picks up and sells cardboard boxes and plastic to eke out a below-the-breadline living.

When Mavundla appeared in the paper, Pinetown Home Affairs contacted her to sort out her ID issue but her hopes were soon dashed when she was told that she is not a South African citizen because her parents were from Lesotho.

“I was born and raised in South Africa, this is the only country I know.”

“I don’t know my parents. From what I have been told, they died in a car accident when I was about three years old and my father worked in the mines. I was raised by a relative and I have never set foot in a classroom,” she said.

ALSO READ: Manage your personal portfolio for smooth life navigation

In 2012, her shack burnt down and she was left with only the clothes she was wearing.

Resolute and almost robotic, she built another tiny shack.

“But this shack leaks. I need to build another shack and I’m trying to buy the material but the money I get from selling cardboard boxes and washing clothes does not make a difference because I have to buy food,” she said.

When asked how she falls asleep in the open shack, Mavundla said, “Only God knows, I put my trust in him and hope for the best.”

Her 27-year-old son is also without an ID. “My son also can not get a proper job which means he will suffer all his life just like me.”

Mavundla now suffers from high blood pressure and earlier this year, when her BP increased she was taken to KwaDabeka Clinic and had to be moved to RK Khan Hospital.

“When the ambulance arrived, paramedics said they could not transport me to hospital because I didn’t have an ID.”

Department of Home Affairs spokesman, Thabo Makgola said the department has introduced stringent measures in relation to the late registration of birth process due to the abuse of the system.

ALSO READ: Get your smart card at Pinetown Home Affairs

“In this regard, the department has to satisfy itself that citizenship is granted to genuine South Africans who may not have had enabling documents. In addition, children born of foreign parents adopt the citizenship of their (parents) country of birth. Further to this case, the complainant may write to the Minister of Home Affairs requesting an exemption from the regulations to grant her South African citizenship. The Minister has the prerogative to grant or refuse such a request based on the representations made to her,” he said

Anyone who would like to help Mavundla build a proper shack or offer any other assistance can contact the Highway Mail on 031 716 4444

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.