A SUNNINGDALE resident is at his wits’ end with the Department of Home Affairs after his ordeal to get his marriage certificate details corrected. It has been a nightmarish six months for Michael van Gelder, who says he has had little or no feedback from the department to get a simple mistake corrected.

“I have heard nothing from anyone at the department and it is now two weeks since I was at the offices in Durban, where I was issued with a second copy of my marriage certificate, but with a date that is incorrect. My marriage took place on 18 February, 1967. This second certificate also does not have my wife’s ID number on it. The first copy of my marriage certificate that I received did not show my ID number, but did have the correct date of marriage.

“I have been trying since February to get this rectified. It is now more than six months since I first requested a marriage certificate, which is just ridiculous. I’m startled by the lack of response but frustrated by the incompetence.”

The local resident says he has not had a single reply nor acknowledgement to his e-mails.

“E-mails have been totally ignored and receipt not even acknowledged. I have also made umpteen visits to the department. I need this certificate to claim my pension. This is totally unacceptable and it is a disproportionately long time to have to wait for the Department of Home Affairs to rectify its own error,” he said.

There had been no response from the Department of Home Affairs.