DoHA Vosloorus disappoints residents again

The Ward 45 Sanco branch and community members were disappointed following the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) failure to deliver services during the service day event held at Ext 14, Vosloorus, on November 25.

Although the Sanco service day event was a success, communities were let down by the DoHA, with approximately 20 if not more people attending the event with hopes to have their quarries resolved.

Kate Simelane (63) is among the dismayed residents. She told Kathorus MAIL that she wanted to apply for her ID because her old one hinders her from getting services.

She said this is the second time that the DoHA has failed her, as she explained that a similar incident occurred in November 2021.

“The DoHA does not uphold its appointments. The last time we sat almost the whole day at J Dumane Hall. I arrived there at 07:30 and they never pitched, we were only told that they are no longer coming around 14:00,” said Simelane.

“They took our names as well as contact details and said they will call us, but they never followed up. I feel bad because when I go to the bank they cannot assist me, I went to the DoHA last year and they said I cannot apply because they are only assisting matriculates who were about to write exams.”

Angry parent Zoleka Modlolo (51) from Masianoke Street, Vosloorus, made her child skip the matric exam because she does not have money to travel to the DoHA offices in Boksburg.

“We got here early because we know that queues are usually long, we were already here around 07:00 because I want to apply for an ID for my child. I am hungry now and I have sugar diabetics. I cannot even walk because of the lack of service by the DoHA, which has proven to be dishonest and does not serve us.”

Another resident Nomsa Nkosi (52) said her child does not have a birth certificate because she does not have an ID.

“I have been going up and down looking for the DoHA. I went from one place to the other and we are told they are no longer coming,” said Nkosi.

She said this affects her badly because she needs the ID.

“I cannot even apply when there are vacancies, because I need an ID,” she said as she held back tears.

The majority of other stakeholders attended the communities’ queries including the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, the Ekurhuleni Municipality, the Department of Social Development, Health, CPF, SASSA Vosloorus, and Ekurhuleni Emergency Services.

NPOs like Aged and Disability, POWA, Eluthandweni, SANCA, and businesses like IKeja WIFI, Benoni VW, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Clientele Life and Old Mutual among others also attended.

The nurse and site leader for the community Lesly Mogapi from Wits RH and HIV Institute said they are offering HIV test services.

“If the result comes back positive we place the patient on treatment and link the patient to a facility nearer to them,” said Mogapi.

“Apart from HIV, we do family planning. We do not do implants, we only do injectable and prevention tablets. Another service we offer is PrEP for people that are sexually active with multiple partners or you are unsure of your partner,” he continued.

“We offer screening for cervical cancer for women who are sexually active with the results released to a facility located close to them.”

The Vosloorus DSD’s social workers and axillary workers shared information on foster care-related services.
They help with the placement of children with foster parents within their families or relatives and the process of applying for the child’s social grant, after concluding with assessment.

Ikeja WIFI area manager Kefentse Moagi said the idea behind the brand is to give people access to the internet.

“It is unlimited and uncapped at R350 per month and people will also see the Ikeja R5 pop up if they have WiFi,” he continued.

“The reason for that is that we are also extending our range to people who want to be on the WiFi but cannot afford the subscription at this stage. The R5 option will let you log into the WiFi for 24 hours but you get the first 15 minutes free,” said Moagi.

Mmaputso Manana from the DoH, in partnership with the South African Hands Action Group NGO, said they are checking patients for blood pressure, hypertension, sugar diabetes and so on.

Sarona Malope from the political education profile in Sanco said they come up with the concept of bringing service to the people due to the unemployment rate in the community. She said people do not have the funds to go to various departments.

“The overall attendance is great because people responded in numbers and the majority of the stakeholders also came,” said Malope.

She expressed her despondency with the non-attendance of the DoHA citing that a lot of people wanted to engage with them.

“They are the main entry point of services. They are indeed labelled as the Department of Horror Affairs. Today they have proved it.”

She said the non-attendance and not answering the phone is disrespectful not only to Sanco but to the public as well.

“We are escalating the matter and we are going to talk to the Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi. They are getting paid to service people and they must not just service their pockets.”

The MAIL contacted the City of Ekurhuleni’s acting district operations manager Kgomotso Masekela and the DoHA Boksburg office manager Derick Mahlo telephonically and via email.

DoHA could not be reached at the time we went to publish. More information will be shared once the MAIL has received a response.