The Department of Home Affairs is urging individuals whose identity numbers were blocked before November 2022 to submit representations before 10 July 2026, reports the Parys Gazette.

According to the South African Government News Agency, the campaign is intended to assist affected individuals while safeguarding the integrity of the National Population Register.

Those affected must visit their nearest home affairs office and submit written or oral representations explaining why their identity numbers should not remain blocked. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the affected identity numbers once the administrative process is finalised.

Several identity numbers were previously blocked under Section 19 of the Identification Act (Act No. 68 of 1997), including cases involving duplicate records or instances where a person’s status required verification. More than 2.2m identity numbers have since been unblocked through the process.

The department says individuals must appear in person at home affairs offices (excluding refugee reception centres and bank branches) and, where possible, provide supporting documents such as birth certificates, clinic cards, hospital records, school records, parents’ identity documents, affidavits, or confirmation from traditional authorities.

Additional supporting material that can verify identity may also be submitted.

Authorities have also warned that identity numbers may be cancelled where investigations confirm they were issued incorrectly, obtained fraudulently, contain false information, or were unlawfully altered.

In terms of Section 3 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) of 2000, affected individuals are being given an opportunity to make representations before any final administrative action is taken.

Officials have urged those affected to act promptly and regularise their status within the deadline.

For more information, South Africans can visit the Department of Home Affairs website: https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/civic-services/blocked-ids-26.

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