NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 345 / NW370E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 18 February 2011
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2 of 2011
Mr E J Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
What is the plan of action to distribute identity books awaiting collection
at the various offices of her Department by the applicants, before the
second registration weekend of voters on 5 and 6 March 2011 to enable them
to register?
NW370E
REPLY:
The following plans are in place:
⢠All Provinces have detailed distribution, and communication plans, in
place to encourage applicants to collect their identity documents.
Lists, with personal particulars of applicants, are, also, compiled by
the offices of application in the various Provinces, and distributed
to the various stakeholders (such as, Municipalities) to assist them
with public awareness. These plans were implemented, following the
comprehensive assessment of requirements, in each area, following
consultation with relevant stakeholders (including, Municipalities,
community forums, and organizations, and traditional leaders).
⢠Mobile Units will be deployed for collection of identity document
applications, as well as, for the distribution of identity documents
to rural communities after consultation with the local stakeholders,
where such need is identified.
⢠Outreach programmes have been implemented to arrange for the
collection of applications, and the distribution of identity
documents. In this regard, the Department works in conjunction with
the local stakeholders, including Community Development Workers
(CDWs), to develop public awareness, and convey information, directly,
to the public, when the applicantâs identity documents are ready for
collection.
⢠A Communication Strategy is, also, in place in each Province, whereby
information is conveyed to the public, through local / Community Radio
Stations, and local newspapers.
⢠Applicants are, also, informed of the progress of their identity
document applications, and when their identity documents are ready for
collection, via the SMS system, already, utilised by the Department.
An SMS is forwarded to confirm receipt of the identity document
application. Similarly, an SMS is sent, when it is finalised, and when
it is despatched to the office of application for collection by the
applicant. Two follow-up reminder SMSs are, also, forwarded should the
identity document not be collected by the applicant.
⢠On the voter registration weekend of 5 and 6 February 2011, the
Departmentâs offices operated from 8:00 to 17:00 to assist applicants
with the issuing of Temporary Identity Certificates (TICs), the
handing over of Identity Documents (IDs), collection, and processing
of first, and re-issue applications, as well as, any enquiries,
including those where intended voters are alive, but are recorded as
deceased on the Voters Roll. Support Staff at the Departmentâs Head
Office were, also, available to assist with the resolution of
enquiries from Provincial Offices. This procedure will, also, be in
place for the second voter registration weekend of 5 and 6 March 2011.
⢠A national publicity awareness campaign was, also, recently, launched
to sensitise people on the importance of collecting their new identity
documents, as soon as possible from the office of application, once
received there.