Dept ready to help matrics with getting proof of identity
Department of Home Affairs reassured matrics this week saying they would be on-site to help them with identification if they needed it.
Many matrics who have applied for their first-time IDs on the home affairs website are still biting their nails since the system had been offline for some time.
However, the Department of Home Affairs reassured learners this week saying they would be on-site to help matrics with identification if they needed it.
“We have received many complaints about matrics who are afraid that they will not be able to obtain IDs timeously for their exams,” said Cindy Billson, DA councillor of ward 69, Centurion.
“A parent said the system had been offline on-and-off since March but had been offline for the past three weeks,” Billson said.
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Billson referred the issue to the DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Adrian Roos.
“The DA petitioned the Minister of Home Affairs to deploy mobile units to high schools to assist matric learners in Tshwane to obtain their IDs so they can write exams,” Roos said.
Roos said matric learners need their physical ID documents to write their exams and access their results. To help these learners, the DA has issued a petition to get Home Affairs mobile units to go to the schools across Tshwane where matric learners are still without ID documentation.
“In 2018, a learner attempted suicide after learning he could not write matric without an ID number, which illustrates the level of trauma experienced by learners in this situation.
“We are pressing for the reopening of Home Affairs offices on Saturdays as learners are at school during the week and should not have to take time off from school to stand in one of the legendary Home Affairs queues to obtain their ID documents.”
Roos said in the landmark Makhanda judgment of 2019, the Makhanda High Court heard of almost a million undocumented learners, the vast majority of which were South African (87%).
“The High Court interdicted the Department of Education for excluding learners based on a lack of birth certificates or IDs. School principals were instructed to accept other forms of proof of identity or an affidavit from their parents, caregiver or guardian and matric certificates were issued with a birth date.
“Regardless of this concession, an ID is needed to apply for tertiary education, get a job, claim free basic services and access social services. It is a ticket to opportunity and a constitutional right.
“On Youth Day last year, Home Affairs stated that 25 mobile units would be deployed on that day to assist matric learners. However, the Department of Home Affairs needs to deploy more mobile units on a schedule to visit every high school in South Africa.
“With this petition, the DA is looking to ensure that no matric learner falls through the cracks. That no matric learner is denied a fair start to their adult life.”
Siqa Qoza, a spokesperson of the department, said the programme of deploying units at schools is ongoing and is done by offices in partnership with schools nearby the offices.
“Should learners face trouble with obtaining proof of identity, we are here to assist,” Qoza said.
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