Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has directed our department to develop a comprehensive plan to support the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to discharge its mandate of delivering a free, fair and credible local government elections scheduled for Wednesday 18 May 2011. Minister of Home Affairs exercises oversight over, among others, the IEC.
Critical, in the Ministerial directive, however, is the need for the Department of Home Affairs to ensure those wishing to particpate and exercise their democratic right to vote, do so without any hindrance with respect particularly to the issuance of Identity Documents.
It is our conviction that an ID remains a passport to a better life for all, to which all South Africans are entitled, and which enables the government to provide citizens with basic social services, while also enabling the people to exercise their democratic and fundamental right to vote for a government of their choice.
In this regard, we are happy to make bold the statement that the Department of Home Affairs, together with other relevant government departments, stands ready to provide the necessary support to the IEC as per directives of Minister Dlamini Zuma.
Plans for local government elections day
On the day of the local government elections, 18 May 2011, the Department has made the following arrangements to assist the public in exercising its democratic right to vote:
- All Home Affairs offices across the country will open at 07h00 and close at 19h00 in line with IEC provisions.
- The offices will offer, in addition to the normal serives, with the issuance of Temporary Identity Certificates, for those who are without permanent identity documents (IDs).
- The offices will also assist the public by handing over uncollected IDs to those who approach the offices.
- In areas where Home Affairs does not have a physical presence, the Department will endeavour to deploy mobile units, as per provincial plans, similar to plans rolled-out during the registration weekends. These mobile units have the capacity to issue temporary Identity Certificates that allow those without permanent IDs to vote, provided they are registered voters.
- The Department has also, through Government Printing Works which reports to Home Affairs, increased its capacity to print IDs and accordingly have produced one hundred and fifty five thousand (155 000) IDs between 21 April and 10 May 2011. These IDs are being sent to offices of application overnight.
- Those members of the public with enquiries can contact the Department’s call centre number at 0800 60 1190 or through the following mobile numbers: 072 435 8569; 072 381 0836 and 079 075 4326.
To assist and facilitate the processes on electoral day, the top management of the Department including the Director-General, will be operating from our Headquarters in Pretoria to direct the departmental processes and to make interventions where necessary.
On the other hand and with a view to enhancing the ability of Minister Dlamini Zuma to exercise oversight and monitor departmental plans and operations on elections day, the IEC has granted permission, following an application by the Minister, for her to cast a special vote on Monday, 16 May in Cape Town. Details will be made available to the media in due course. Similar arrangements have been made for those Home Affairs officers who will be on duty for the duration of the day of elections.
Of serious concern, to Minister Dlamini Zuma, at this stage remains the matter of uncollected ID’s that remain in our offices across the country to which she alluded to during the Departmental Budget Speech in Cape Town on 12 April 2011.
At the time of the Budget Speech the figure for uncollected ID’s stood at 500 000. By the end of April this year, however, the number of uncollected ID’s had reduced by almost a 100 000. While this is a welcome development, we however still remain concerned about the remaining figure for uncollected ID’s, which now stands at four hundred and six thousand six hundred and ninety two (406 692). We reiterate the appeal for those who have applied for their ID’s and have been notified of their readiness for collection, to do so as soon as possible.
As part of efforts to encourage members of the public to collect these ID’s, Minister Dlamini Zuma will on Monday 16 May visit Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Masiphumele in Houtbay, Cape Winelands, and the Hillside informal settlement in Grabouw to deliver IDs to people whose IDs were destroyed as result of natural disasters and fire. This week, witnessed Minister Dlamini Zuma visiting a number of communities in Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape to hand deliver IDs to needy communities.
Minister Dlamini Zuma, Deputy Minister Fatima Chohan, the management of the Department including myself, join the government and President Jacob Zuma in wishing all our people the best in exercising their democratic right to vote on 18 May 2011 and as part of entrenching our democracy as a nation.
For more information contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
