The Department of Home Affairs is urging individuals whose IDs were blocked before November 2022 to submit representations before July 10.

According to a statement issued on Monday and reported by the South African Government News Agency, the campaign aims to assist affected individuals while protecting the integrity of the National Population Register.

In terms of Section 3 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) of 2000, affected individuals are being allowed to explain why their identity numbers should not remain blocked.

The department said all individuals with blocked IDs must visit a Home Affairs office, excluding refugee reception centres and bank branches, to submit written and oral representations before the deadline.

Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the affected identity numbers once the administrative process has been completed.

Several identity numbers were previously blocked under Section 19 of the Identification Act (Act No 68 of 1997), including cases involving duplicate records or where a person’s status required verification. To date, over 2.2 million identity numbers have already been unblocked.

Affected individuals are required to appear in person at Home Affairs offices and, where possible, provide supporting documents such as birth certificates, clinic cards, hospital records, parents’ identity documents, school records, affidavits or confirmation from traditional authorities.

The department further warned that IDs may be cancelled where investigations confirm they were issued incorrectly, obtained fraudulently, contain false information or were unlawfully altered or manipulated.

Officials have urged affected individuals to act promptly and use the opportunity to regularise their status within the required timeframe.

For more information, residents can visit the Department of Home Affairs website: https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/civic-services/blocked-ids-26.