‘Not born in SA’, pensioner told
After queuing for over two hours at Home Affairs, Joseph Eksteen (64) was told he doesn’t qualify for a smart ID.
All Joseph Eksteen (64) wanted when he visited the Springs Home Affairs office recently was to obtain a new smart ID card.
Instead he claims he was insulted and turned away.
After queuing for nearly two and a half hours at Home Affairs, Eksteen was told by an official that he doesn’t qualify for a smart ID.
“Though I was born in SA I was told by an official that I wasn’t born in SA,” he says.
Eksteen was born in Springs and had his South African birth certificate in his possession, but that apparently didn’t matter to the people working at the office.
Eksteen says he was told to pay for a new green ID book before they would consider his application for a smart ID card.
“I already have an ID book, and why should I pay for another one? After all I am a pensioner.”
He feels insulted by the way he was treated.
After calming down, he asked the officials what reason there was for applying for a second green ID book.
“They said they will consider giving me a smart ID card after I have received my second ID book. Isn’t that ridiculous?”
Eksteen says firstly he is a pensioner who doesn’t have to pay for an ID book or card, and secondly he wants to know how officials can decide who can receive the new card?
“To me this is discriminatory,” he says.
The new smart ID is free to first-time applicants aged 16 and pensioners over the age of 60.
The cost for all other applicants is R140.
First-time applicants, aged 16, need the following when they apply for a smart ID card:
• Birth certificate.
• The minor must be accompanied by a parent, preferably the mother, or guardian if both parents are deceased.
• ID or smart card of parent or guardian.
• Death certificates if both parents are deceased.
• Court order or a foster care order appointing the guardian.
No photos are needed.
Pensioners 60 years and older, as well as other citizens who are first-time applicants, need to take their green ID or an affidavit if their ID is lost.
A marriage certificate or divorce decree is needed, whichever is applicable, for those who are or have been married.
No comment had been received from the Department of Home Affairs at the time of publishing.
