Staff Reporter
The Executive Director at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Etienne Maritz said the ministry is sitting with 52 899 uncollected identification documents at its head office since last year and is calling on the public to collect their identification documents.
“The ministry has produced a total number of 114 353 identification cards out of which 61 455 have been collected. That means a total number of 52, 899 ID cards are still uncollected and are piling up at our offices. The ministry is humbly calling upon those who have applied for identity documents to come and collect their Ids,” Maritz pleaded.
In addition, the ministry advised those who are not able to travel to collect their Identification documents from the office to make arrangements.
“Applicants must take note that, one can collect him or her Id at the office where he or she indicated to collect it or alternatively one can also request the ID card to be transferred to the ministry of
Home Affairs office in their respective regions,’’ he added.
Last year, in pursuit of improving service delivery the ministry in partnership with MTC re-introduced the SMS notification service for identity document (ID) application services.
ID applicants will henceforth receive an SMS on their mobile phones when their application for an ID has been approved and the card has been printed, as well as when their ID is ready for collection.
The ministry then said it was confident that the ID SMS initiative will save applicants time, and decongest their offices as applicants no longer need to go to the offices to enquire whether their IDs are ready or not.
Furthermore, he encouraged all citizens to apply for an id when they turn 16 years of age and permanent residents, immediately after they have been granted permanent residency and to keep their identification documents secure.
“The ministry is experiencing a rise in identity theft partly because birth certificates and Id’s are not kept safe. Your identity is your greatest asset, and you must at all times keep your birth certificates and your Id in a safe and secure place,” Maritz encouraged.
