Tshwane’s speaker offices and SAPS set to issue proof of residence declaration
This as residents report difficulties accessing proof of residence declarations since the dissolution of Tshwane council.
Without councillors tasked to issue proof of residence declarations within their wards, such documents may be obtained from Tshwane metro’s speaker’s office or the police.
Residents have reported difficulties accessing proof of residence declarations since the dissolution of Tshwane council.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said in the current circumstances, where there were no councillors in the office, the Tshwane metro speaker officials based in the different regions would assist residents with the forms for confirmation of address.
“Residents would have to go to the nearest police station and/or commissioner of oaths for commission/certification.”
Residents applying for school, UIF Ters fund, tax clearance, jobs and bank applications need the certification.
Many residents who live in informal settlements and those who moved during the lockdown have been most affected.
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Former ward 2 councillor, Yolanda Duvenage said she received daily calls from residents requesting proof of residence, many wanting to apply for their children at school.
“As it stands, we are not officially recognised as ward councillors therefore signing the declaration would be fraud. It is quite terrible for the residents that we cannot assist them in this regard,” said Duvenage.
“As councillors, we are based in the same areas and we were accessible. I received calls from people who have just rented new houses and parents that needed it for school application.
“We are an impoverished area, many need this for food parcels. Many NGOs need it to ensure that there is no duplication in the distribution of the parcels but we are unable to assist right now,” she said.
Former ward 96 councillor Hannes Coetzee said there were new developmental projects in some of the Pretoria North areas and many people needed proof of residence to get employment.
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“Many people that struggle the most are those who stay in informal settlements, they mainly need it for employment, bank applications, UIF and Sassa applications,” he said.
“Some residents also reported they needed these for tax clearance as using water, electricity bill letters as proof were giving them problems with officials.”
Meanwhile, other former ward councillors reported that some residents were able to use their municipality bill letter as proof of residence.
DA mayoral candidate Randal Williams said many of the DA former councillors reported residences knocking at their doors for proof of residences.
“The proof of residence is a major requirement at this time as parents are supposed to submit the document when registering their children on the Gauteng department of education’s database for acceptance into the next academic school year.
“They are also required for Sassa grant registrations and the Covid-19 social relief programme, yet the poorest of the poor are the ones who suffer the most. Some residents have to travel from far-flung areas only to be turned away from the city with no assistance from the administrators.
“The DA is concerned that if councillors are not urgently reinstated, they will not legally be authorised to issue these documents.”
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