Home Affairs satisfied with services during registration weekend

Pretoria – The Department of Home Affairs has expressed satisfaction with the services it rendered to South Africans during the final voter registration weekend.

The Independent Electoral Commission declared 8 and 9 February as a final registration drive.

According to the department, 19862 Identity Documents (ID) were issued, 2081 Temporary Identity Certificates were issued, 100 001 ID applications were received and 4540 smart ID cards processed throughout the weekend.

Also, the department visited 22 prisons in which 32 IDs and nine Temporary Identity Certificates were issued.

In line with the directive issued by Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, 315 Home Affairs offices were opened on both days from 8am to 5pm.

The work of the offices was complimented by the deployment of 73 mobile trucks to reach out to those areas where the department does not have offices.

Senior managers from Pretoria were deployed to Home Affairs provincial offices to assist.

“We extend our gratitude to the 2691 Home Affairs officers who were on duty nationally to assist the citizenry in acquiring the necessary enabling documents to register to vote.

Home Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said this year’s elections in May, as announced by President Jacob Zuma, mark a significant milestone in the history of the country, especially against the background of the 20 years of the dawn of peace, freedom and democracy.

“We take this opportunity to thank those members of the public who took time off their busy personal and other responsibilities to visit Home Affairs offices to acquire the various forms of identity to enable them to register to vote,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za