ID delay frustrates pensioner
The issue with Ngwazi's case is that he last had an ID in 1987.
Delays in the issuing of smart IDs by the Department of Home Affairs is a thorny issue for South Africans who need them for various reasons.
Fana Ngwazi of Oshabeni applied for a smart ID in January after he lost his old ID in 2022, but had no success.
According to Ngwazi, the delay is preventing him from applying for an old age pension, as he turned 60 in June.
His daughter, Londeka Cele, said the ID problem is frustrating her father. “He has no income and this has caused him a lot of stress,” she said.
However, Ngwazi rejoiced last Friday, after the Fever informed him that the Ugu District Home Affairs office manager, Nkosentsha Ntshangase, had requested that he come into the office for a temporary ID, to be able to apply for his pension.
Ntshangase explained that the issue with Ngwazi’s case is that he last had an ID in 1987. Therefore his fingerprints need to be verified and uploaded on the new system.
“Ngwazi is not alone with this problem. It’s difficult to fast-track his ID as his fingerprints are not yet registered. Hopefully, his application will be attended to soon as there was an upgrade to the system two weeks ago to deal with such cases,” he said.
Ntshangase added that Ngwazi should have applied for his old age pension in June “I have spoken to Sassa management to establish whether they can assist him with a temporary arrangement. They agreed, if he has a Home Affairs covering letter.”
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