Resident dismayed by service to elderly
The home affairs employees then handed out forms an hour later to people queuing outside, to be completed, which my sister completed.
EDITOR – My elderly mother recently went to the Edenvale Home Affairs office to apply for the new card type identity document.
Unfortunately, there was a long queue and she was forced to queue outside in the sun along with a number of other people.
After queuing for over an hour, my sister, who had accompanied her, went inside to request that the elderly, my mother and three other people, be allowed to sit inside while she continued to queue.
This request was refused on more than one occasion.
Eventually, she was successful in getting the elderly access to the seats which were standing empty inside the home affairs office. By this time, one elderly person had left.
The home affairs employees then handed out forms an hour later to people queuing outside, to be completed, which my sister completed.
My mother then came out, as she could see my sister through the window and said she had been told she may not have a form until my sister was inside the home affairs building.
Eventually, my mother received a form to complete and having done this, was told that since she was not born in South Africa she could not apply for the new card type identity document.
She pointed out that she has friends who have applied and received the new identity card from Edenvale Home Affairs, and they were not born in South Africa.
The home affairs officer in charge rudely told her that that it is impossible, and they were not going to process her application.
My mother is 75 years old and has been in South Africa since she was eight.
She became a South African citizen before she left high school and has only ever left the country to visit my brother in Australia.
There are a number of issues at hand here:
I am of the understanding that pensioners are usually assisted as a priority due to their age and status in our community.
Why were the pensioners not at least allowed to sit out of the sun while they waited?
How was it possible for other people not born in South Africa to get identity cards, but my mother was rudely turned away?
My father who is 87 years old also requires an updated identity card, however it would be impossible for him to be exposed to this type of treatment due to health reasons. What are his options in these circumstances?
I think the most frustrating part of this entire situation is that there was not one person in this establishment who could offer a professional service.
In fact, all three officers approached, including the manageress, were extremely unhelpful, rude and particularly unsympathetic.
KAREN GLAUTIER
EDENVALE
EDITOR’S COMMENT – The letter was sent to the Home Affairs Department for comment on October 11 and again on October 20.
The letter was also sent to the Edenvale Home Affairs Department on November 14 for comment by November 20.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received.
