IF all that has been keeping you from starting a new job abroad is a passport, you will be delighted to hear that further services are now available at Department of Home Affairs (DHA) offices.

Meanwhile, DHA offices around the country are still trying to get thousands of documents into the hands of citizens who applied for them before the pandemic and help those who are unable to access services due to lack of documentation.

ALSO READ: Smart ID cards ready to be collected from Home Affairs

“During the lockdown period between 27 March to 13 July 2020 we waged a formidable war against the scandal of invisibility by registering 267 835 new births that occurred just before and during lockdown covering the backlog,” said Deputy Minister Home Affairs  Njabulo B Nzuza during last week’s Home Affairs Budget Vote Debate.

“We issued 150 141 Temporary Identity Certificates ensuring that those who lost their identity documents could continue with their lives.”

The department’s spokesperson, Siya Qoza, said in an announcement on 20 May that there was a backlog of smart ID cards awaiting collection.

“On 15 May 2020, the department had 411 390 uncollected smart ID cards,” said Qoza.

ID documents are needed by citizens to access government services including grants and applying for new services.

Last week DHA announced that 139 061 Smart ID Cards had been collected, but still over 300 000 remained in offices around the country in the same speech made by Ooza in a virtual sitting of parliament.

Good morning🌞. #DHA still has over 300 000 uncollected ID’s. Please make time to collect it #CollectYourID pic.twitter.com/EPSlbwMS86

— HomeAffairsSA 🇿🇦 (@HomeAffairsSA) July 24, 2020

Previously passport services were only available to those engaged in the delivery of essential goods across SA borders and those who were travelling for medical services

ALSO READ:  Sigh of relief as department extends validity of expired driver’s licences

The latest announcement from the department said additional categories of passport applications were now open for people who are needing to leave South Africa to start new jobs abroad and those needing to travel to reunite with family living overseas.

Here are additional categories of passport applications that will be accepted at #DHA offices during the #lockdown:

-Applications by citizens who need to take up employment abroad
-Applications by citizens who need to be reunited with their families abroad pic.twitter.com/JsaqsQ5l7F

— HomeAffairsSA 🇿🇦 (@HomeAffairsSA) July 27, 2020

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