Sixty-five people have taken an important step towards securing their legal identity after receiving their official birth certificates during a Department of Home Affairs outreach in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Wednesday.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza presided over the handover ceremony at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre, where the department’s Services on Wheels initiative brought essential services closer to residents, who had not been registered at birth.
The outreach forms part of the department’s nationwide drive to address Late Registration of Birth, helping people establish their legal identity and gain access to essential government and social services.
“Through the Services on Wheels initiative, the Department of Home Affairs continues to bridge the gap between remote or underserviced communities and government resources, helping more people secure their legal identities and fully exercise their rights as South African citizens.
“Every birth certificate issued is a step towards recognition, dignity and inclusion,” Nzuza said.
Government encourages parents to register their children’s births within 30 days. Registration can be done at a Department of Home Affairs office by a parent, guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child.
South Africans living overseas can register births at their nearest embassy or mission.
Births registered after the 30-day period are classified as late registrations, for which additional requirements apply. – SAnews.gov.za
