This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday that the country would remain on alert level 3.

The new restrictions will reduce the number of people flocking to the department’s office.

Middelburg Home Affairs Manager, Penny Vuma, said on Thursday that the following services will be suspended until further notice:

• Smart-ID applications, with the exception of matric pupils.

• Solemnisation, marriage registrations and end of marriage registrations.

• ID collections, unless clients receive a message from the department of home affairs.

• Applications for passports, except for people who fall in the categories permitted to travel in the amended Disaster Management Act Regulations.

* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online.

Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed.

Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

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