Pretoria – Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma today, Thursday, 3 February 2011, reiterated the commitment and readiness of the Department of Home Affairs to ensure South Africans are in possession of IDs ahead of the Local Government elections.
Speaking in Pretoria Minister Dlamini Zuma said, “The department stands ready and is committed to assisting all those South Africans who are without IDs and wish to register for the forthcoming local government elections “In the context of the forthcoming local government elections, an ID becomes an increasingly important document that enables our people to exercise their democratic right to vote.”
“As part of our responsibility to enable our people to exercise this fundamental right, Home Affairs officers across the country will on Friday, 4 February work extended hours as part of its contribution to the holding of credible local government elections.”
“In addition, our Home Affairs officers have committed themselves to working at full steam on both Saturday and Sunday, 5 to 6 February across the country from 08h00 to 17h00 to assist those who may wish to apply for ID’s to enable them to participate in the local government elections.”
“We do so in support of the independent Electoral Commission (IEC) but also in pursuance of our constitutional mandate to ensure our people have access to enabling documents to access quality services including the exercise of the right to vote. Equally, we will be extending similar services through mobile offices particularly in those areas affected by floods and those without home affairs offices.”
“Your vote is one way in which you can contribute to the creation of a better life for all South Africans and an ID is a critical and an important element thereof,” concluded Minister Dlamini Zuma.
