The Department of Home Affairs wishes to clarify the tariff increases for IDs, passports and other documents provided to citizens, as announced by the Director-General Mkuseli Apleni on 24 March 2011.
Following the announcement by the Director-General last week, our offices around the country have been inundated with citizens wanting to “beat the deadline,” before the tariff increases become effective tomorrow, Friday 1 April 2011.
There is no need to panic. In as far as IDs are concerned the tariffs only apply to those who apply for a second copy of an ID when it has been lost or mislaid. The idea is to encourage South Africans to value their IDs, in the same way you would value your bank card, drivers licence and other important documents.
Accordingly if you are applying for an ID for the first time it will be issued free of charge.
However, in cases of humanitarian crises occasioned by fire, floods or other natural disasters, Minister Dlamini Zuma will waive the costs related to reproducing the IDs and therefore people affected by such natural disasters will have their IDs issued free of charge.
In the case where details were incorrectly captured by officials in the department the department will carry the cost of re-issuing the ID.
Tariffs for passports on the other hand have now increased to R400. This is due to improved security features to ensure criminal elements are not able to reproduce them or use them for nefarious activities at home or abroad.
The department remains committed to provided quality services to the people as part of our constitutional mandate.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
