Lack of essential documents . The oversight visits by portfolio committees revealed that almost a quarter of the residents of Bushbuckridge do not have one or the other necessary documents such as an identity book, birth certificate, etc. It was emphasised that without these documents, community members will not be able to access government services such as old age pensions, grants, housing and other services. . It was felt that information on government services is centralized and ordinary people, especially in rural areas, are not able to access it. . In general there is a lack of civil education on government services and as a result communities do not understand the policies and programmes of government. Where available, officials manning these offices do not adhere to Batho Pele principles.