Question NW4538 to the Minister of Home Affairs

Reply:

a) Yes, in terms of the Births and Death Act (Act 51 of 1992), all notices of birth of any South African that meets the requirements must be registered within thirty (30) days, and a computerised birth certificate is issued. South African citizens not possessing the documentation required to apply for identity documents follow the Late Registration of Birth(LRB) process. The LRB process is in place to accommodate South Africans who have not registered their children within the stipulated 30 days of birth and to ensure that qualifying applicant(s) are assisted with birth registration, where young persons are unable to obtain their identity documents (IDs) as a result of not having evidence of birth registration or proof of birth.

In respect of LRB applications for births above thirty-one (31) days to one (1) year the applicants are not subjected to interviews by the screening committee panelists, however a document verification process is done on the spot with the applicant, and the ID number will be generated by the office of application and as such the birth certificate is issued on the same day, if systems are operational.

However the LRB process for births of one (1) year up to fifteen (15) years and above has more stringent measures, as it is done only at designated local front offices in the province and is subjected to a screening committee which composes of a Chairperson at a District Manager: Operations(DMO) level, Office Manager, Immigration Officer and Secretariat and an additional member.

The steps in the application process and the requirements are as follows:

• Complete DHA 24 (LRB), DHA 288 (LRB affidavit), and all other relevant forms.
• Online verification of the informant’s fingerprints against HANIS (Home Affairs National Identification System); or a full set of manual fingerprints taken to be submitted for verification at Head Office, to be verified against HANIS.
• After verification of fingerprints, they are taken back to office of application to continue with process of application.
• Applicant(s) to provide Proof of Birth issued by Health Facility where child was born or school letter with copy of admission register from school or baptismal certificate (issued within 5 years of birth).
• DHA office to conduct further background checks to authenticate the veracity of the information furnished, including information relating to the health facility / school records / church records, etc.
• Separate interviews conducted for the applicant and informant(s) of the person whose birth is to be registered, through the LRB screening committee, as established by DHA.
• If above approved by the LRB screening committee the File with all relevant information and supporting documents is sent to DHA Head Office (Pretoria) where the ID number will be generated, provided it complies with all requirements. If approval is not granted the matter is referred to Immigration Services for further investigation with the reasons provided.
• Short message service (sms) is activated to inform the applicant of the successful application and to collect the birth certificate.
• Birth Certificate to be collected at the office of application.
• Applicant can apply for an ID as a result.

b) The turnaround time is one hundred and eighty (180) days, provided that the process above is followed and all requirements are met. However regular adjudication by the screening committee is often delayed by among others:

• Non-availability of clients for scheduling of interviews as clients change contact details;

• Insufficient supporting documents on the application and
• Delays with fingerprint verification due to poor quality of fingerprints taken.

END