Woman receives ID at 63
The office manager for Home Affairs at Port Shepstone, Nkosentsha Ntshangase, appeals to parents to register their new-borns within 30 days of birth.
Nomusa Mbali (63) from Thelawayeka in KwaXolo near Izingolweni received her identity document (ID) for the first time on Tuesday last week.
Mbali has been unable to get a Sassa pension or do anything in her life because of the lack of an ID.
Excitement was written all over her face when she received it.
Mbali said she has never had a birth certificate because her parents were uneducated people.
“There were nine of us siblings, but they are all late now. One of my sisters tried to help me before she died, but we just couldn’t get help.”
Mbali got married, but her marriage was not recognised by the Department of Home Affairs because of her ID issue.
She said she has never worked a proper job, but she always had casual jobs and was able to feed her child.
Likhi Jama from the Phakamisa NPO was able to help Mbali get her ID.
Jama said that they met in 2022 and found out that her parents also never had IDs.
He said while helping her, she got stressed and started getting ill and had a stroke.
“The first time trying to help her, she had to do an interview with Home Affairs, but she failed. We had to come back to the area to find someone who might have grown up with her, her relatives and izinduna to get more information.”
Jama said it got to a point where a DNA test had to be done, which was quite a journey.
Eventually, things fell into place, and they finally managed to get her an ID.
The office manager for Home Affairs at Port Shepstone, Nkosentsha Ntshangase, appeals to parents to register their newborns within 30 days of birth.
He added if a child is not registered, it can lead to situations such as that of Gogo Mbali.
“We urge every new mother to make sure that they register their newborn babies. Also, when a child turns 16, parents must make sure that they register for an ID. A child does not have to wait till they get to matric to have an ID; as soon as they turn 16, they can register to apply for one.”
He said a parent can still register a child at Home Affairs even after the 30 days but advised that it is best to do so within 30 days.
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