Question NW3110 to the Minister of Home Affairs

Reply:

(a)(i) Total number of uncollected ID documents is 566 429 Out of 566 429 cases there are 63 452 deceased cases leaving a balance of 502 977 uncollected IDs.

(a)(ii) The breakdown per Province is depicted in the table below:

PROVINCES	ALIVE	DECEASED	TOTAL
EC	61839	11562	73401
FS	34986	5004	39990
GP	111841	13177	125018
KZN	68337	8492	76829
LP	42806	6078	48884
MP	30839	3403	34242
NW	33861	4396	38257
NC	15905	2822	18727
WC	63500	6225	69725
Mobile Unit	6596	1697	8293
E-Channel	32467	596	33063
G /TOTAL	502977	63452	566429

(b)(i) The table below depicts the offices per Province with 4000 and more IDs on hand pending collection.

 

NO	Province	Top Five (5) Offices Per Province	Volume on Alive Status	Volume on Deceased Status
1	Eastern Cape	Port Elizabeth	8350	2015
		East London	3834	782
		Mthatha	3408	645
		Uitenhage	3274	646
		Lusikisiki	2321	318
2	Gauteng	Akasia	8344	1031
		Pretoria	7371	780
		Johannesburg	7274	1597
		Mamelodi	6516	459
		Randburg	5996	687
3	Western Cape	Cape Town	7396	745
		Wynberg	5726	699
		Bellville	5528	506
		Paarl	4437	470
		Nyanga	4304	532
4	Kwa-Zulu Natal	Ethekwini	6813	639
		Pinetown	4867	549
		Pietermaritzburg	4496	643
		Commercial Road	4212	683
		Ugu	3343	512
5	Free State	Bloemfontein	6744	783
		Sasolburg	3292	635
		Welkom	3122	631
		Koffiefontein	2519	727
		Bultfontein	2402	173
6	North West	Rustenburg	4107	551
		Klerksdorp	3018	776
		Brits	2763	392
		Mmabatho	2203	538
		Mankwe	2035	274
7	Limpopo	Polokwane	3832	641
		Lebowakgomo	2704	387
		Tzaneen	2671	730
		Groblersdal	2166	561
		Thohoyandou	2146	332
8	Northern Cape	Upington	2613	749
		Kimberley	2109	342
		Kuruman	1798	371
		De Aar	975	310
		Jan Kempdorp	897	201
9	Mpumalanga	Nelspruit	2505	318
		Witbank	2485	359
		White River	2128	367
		Piet Retief	1815	201
		Lydenburg	1749	193

(b)(ii) The main reasons clients are not collecting their IDs are as follows:

• Clients having valid Green ID Books resulting in applicants not returning to collect the new Smart ID Card.
• Financial constraints (e.g. no money to travel to DHA offices).
• Long queues at offices discourages clients.
• Clients are unable to collect Smart ID Cards during system downtime.
• No updated contact details provided by applicant.e.g. number on system no longer exists or contact number not belonging to applicant.
• Time Constraints.
• No money to travel to DHA Offices.
• Travel distance to DHA Offices - office may be far from they stay/ work etc.
• Applicant relocated to another town / city / country etc.
• Applicant is deceased.

(c) The Department recently enhanced its Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS) with a “collections” option in order for clients to schedule an appointment to collect their IDs in all live capture offices.

The Modernisation system was also enhanced with a new capability for front offices to “redirect” IDs and passports to alternative offices as required by the client.

The Department also communicates to the public when various offices will open on Saturdays. Clients are encouraged to take advantage of the extended hours on Saturdays to collect documents they have applied for and not wait for the last minute.

At local front office level, clients are also being called in to collect while mobile units are taking IDs to rural areas, Schools and high volume communities for distribution of IDs for collection.

There is reactivation of SMS to reminding clients for clients to collect the uncollected IDs at the offices.

There are also Community Outreach Programmes in partnerships with IEC, Department of Basic Education, Metros, Districts and Local Municipalities. Uncollected ID volumes are shared with stakeholders to market and encourage clients to collect their documents through the various platforms provided.

The Department is also in the process of preparing the necessary resources to have high volume offices open on Saturdays from 30 Sept to 11 Nov 2023 (5 Saturdays only) for collection purposes as a build-up to Voter Registration Weekend taking place on 18 and 19 November 2023.

END