Home Affairs in Secunda fails to register baby
Department says if baby is not born in clinic or hospital they cannot register her.
A young couple of Mpumalanga was forced to register their baby at a Home Affairs Department office in Gauteng after locals failed to help them.
The couple’s baby was born at the end of January at a birth clinic in Gauteng where a midwife assisted with the labour.
The couple moved to Secunda early in March and went to the Department of Home Affairs to register their daughter but they said the department could only register a certain number of babies daily. They reached the limit for that day.
The new parents had to return early in the morning on another day to ensure they would be helped.
“My son-in-law went back earlier the next day, but they told him the mother of the baby also has to sign the papers,” said the grandmother of the baby.
“They said he could not take those papers from their offices for my daughter to sign. She must go there herself to sign it.
“He then returned for the third time. This time with my daughter. They were then told they could not register the child because she was not born in a hospital or clinic but at a midwifery place.”
The couple had to go to Home Affairs in Gauteng where births done by midwives are accepted. It is allegedly not accepted in Mpumalanga.
“I wonder how many babies in our area are born at home or elsewhere because the parents do not get to a hospital in time or they do not have money to pay for a birth in a private hospital. What happens to all those babies? Are none of them getting registered?” asked the grandmother.
The couple returned to the offices in Secunda to explain that the birth clinic where their baby was born was registered and that even the medical aid accepted the clinic and paid for the delivery.
The couple were told that a manager would come from Nelspruit the next day to hear their case, but he never showed up.
“Then they were asked for proof that the birth clinic is registered.”
The frustrated parents eventually decided to travel to Gauteng.
“In Gauteng, they went to a small office of the Department of Home Affairs and were immediately helped. The officials did not ask for proof that the birth clinic is registered or had any other excuses to help them.”
The Ridge Times asked the manager of the Department of Home Affairs in Secunda for comment, but he referred the newspaper to the national department.
The Ridge Times still has not received any feedback from the national department.
