Resident expresses annoyance and dissatisfaction with home affairs

POLOKWANE – A Flora Park resident expressed her annoyance and disappointment with the department of home affairs this week.

Lucinda Antonio said she applied for an identity document (ID) in February 2012 after her ID was stolen.

A few days after applying for her ID, she applied for a passport as well. “A few months after my application I received my passport, but not my ID. I went to the department several times to find out when I would be able to get my ID, but they kept on telling me that the ID was still in Pretoria being processed,” Antonio explained.

She said she was not worried, because she had her driver’s licence as proof of identification, until last week when she needed her ID to clear documentation at the bank.

She went back to the department last Thursday and her ID was apparently still not ready. “I was very upset because it’s been two years and my ID is still not ready. I was told that there was a mix-up with my ID and passport application, and that I would have to reapply for my ID.

“They showed me there was a record of me applying for both the passport and ID, but that my ID application got lost between processing and clearance in Pretoria,” Antonio said.

She said the department now expected her to pay again for a new application and she had to submit new ID photos as well.

“Now I must pay an additional R140 and spend another R50 on ID photos, because the department lost my documentation. That is not fair. No one can tell me what happened to the money I paid with my first application. They must refund me, so that I can use that money to reapply for my ID. This is unfair and I refuse to pay again,” Antonio said vehemently.

By the time of going to print no comment had been made in spite of Review’s requests to Florah Motsitsi, the acting provincial manager for the department.