Deputy Home Affairs Minister Fatima Chohan, supported by officials, today Monday, 28 March 2011, strengthened service delivery in Roodepoort when she interacted with members of the community.
Deputy Minister Chohan’s visit to the area comes within the context of the department’s National Population Register (NPR) Campaign which was launched a year ago in the Eastern Cape by President Jacob Zuma and Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The campaign aims to ensure the integrity and security of the NPR through a single point of entry, at birth. As part of this campaign, young people, particularly those who have turned 16 years of age, are encouraged to apply for IDs.
In this regard, Deputy Minister Chohan, addressing youth in the area on “The importance of acquiring an ID and the role of Film and Publications Board: its importance to the community,” said an “ID has become increasingly important since it enables young people to access a range of services offered by government and other sectors in society.
An ID is required when, amongst others, registering to write matric examinations, accessing further education and employment opportunities, acquiring driver’s licences and applying for financial services,” she said.
In addition, Deputy Minister Chohan reiterated that if babies are registered within 30 days of birth, “not only will parents be able to apply for social grants if these are required but government will be able to plan accurately to meet the needs of the citizenry. Government, if it is to be effective must begin to plan to provide, amongst others, education, healthcare, and social grants when the child is born. It is therefore imperative that children are registered within 30 days of birth,” she said.
As part of her interaction with the community, Deputy Minister Chohan distributed IDs to a group of mentally and physically challenged children and adults at the Lifemed Hospital in Roodepoort.
Deputy Minister Chohan also met with and hosted a group of orphans from the Siyabonga Dorah’s Ark Community Development Centre with whom the department has been working to ensure that all the orphans under the age of 16 are issued with birth certificates while those who are over the age of 16 receive IDs.
With a view to ensuring the department delivers on its mandate to provide services to all South Africans, the Department’s mobile offices as well as officials, rendered services to members of the community at the Davidsonville Community Hall Stadium.
Background
The National Population Register Campaign which was launched on 23 March 2010 in the Eastern Cape by President Jacob Zuma and Minister Dlamini Zuma. One of the objectives of the campaign is to encourage young people, particularly those who have turned 16 years of age, to apply for IDs to enable them to access services provided by government.
The campaign also aims to ensure the integrity and security of the NPR through a single point of entry, at birth. Parents are therefore also encouraged to register their babies within 30 days of birth. Since the launch of the campaign significant progress has been made in this regard. Of a total of 899 618 births registered from April - January 2010/11, 793 567 were registered within a year, which accounts for 88%.This is exceeds the department’s target of 70%. The registration of birth within 30 days remains at 52% out of 793 567 (412 655) registered within a year.
With a view to assisting parents register their babies within 30 days, the department has increased its footprint in terms of the number of hospitals and health facilities linked to the department’s database. There are now 330 hospitals and healthcare facilities linked to our database around the country. Where possible, parents receive birth certificates even before they leave hospital with their new babies.
The presence of stakeholder fora in the community’s has played an invaluable role in assisting the department to achieve the objectives of the NPR. In this regard, the total number of fora established and launched throughout the country has increased to two hundred and fifty four (254), out of a total of two hundred and eighty two (282) municipalities including targeted metros. This accounts for 90% prevalence.
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Manusha Pillai
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