Social distancing headaches outside Alberton Home Affairs

The Alberton RECORD has been investigating the problems surrounding the lack of social distancing in the long queues outside the Alberton Home Affairs offices.

This problem has been persisting for a while. The RECORD spoke to the Alberton office manager, Elias Mokoena, about the problem.

According to Mokoena, they are aware of the problem and it has been a problem for them for a while. The Alberton Home Affairs office is understaffed due to Covid-19 regulations limiting the amount of staff allowed to work at once.

The office only has two security members on duty to control the queues. Their responsibilities also include sanitising hands at the entrance and organising the people according to what they need to do at the office ahead of time. He indicated that the police has in the past been there to attempt to assist.

The RECORD also spoke to Col Doctor Sibuyi, station commander of Alberton SAPS, regarding this and he indicated that the members are attending to the complaints, but it is impossible for them to be permanently stationed there as they are needed elsewhere to deal with criminal activities.

The RECORD is investigating this matter further with other authorities to shed more light on why the situation has led to this dangerous situation and what can be done regarding it.

A full report on our findings will be published at a later date.

ALSO READ:

Alberton Home Affairs will not receive ID re-issue applications