With elections in sight and approximately 19 150 smart IDs and 1 528 green bar-coded IDs gathering dust at the Ekurhuleni Home Affairs office, the city has urged its resident to collect their IDs.
“The City of Ekurhuleni, as responsible government that promotes participatory democracy urges residents to collect their IDs so that they can register to vote during the voter registration period on 26 and 27 January 2019,” said the city in a statement on Sunday.
Furthermore, uncollected IDs hamper the city service delivery programmes because residents cannot register for other municipal programmes, such as RDP housing and cannot collect their title deeds when they are available for collection.
Among the services that the residents forgo due to lack of IDs are enlisting on the city’s indigent database for which they are entitled for free water, free electricity and indigent rebates to assessment rates.
To this end, the city has entered into a partnership with Home Affairs to fast-track collection IDs.
The city is providing transport to elder residents, people living with disability, learners and military veterans.
Non-governmental organisation, community-based organisations and churches have also been roped in to assist.
The city has also used its community outreach programme, Siyaqhuba, to advocate for application and collection of birth certificates and IDs.
A total of 19 150 Smart IDs are ready for collection at the following Home Affairs offices:
- Benoni: 1 294
- Alberton: 1 515
- Boksburg: 2 507
- Brakpan: 2 715
- Kempton Park: 1 419
- Nigel: 1 086
- Germiston: 2 607
- Springs: 1 467
- Edenvale: 4 540
“Residents are reminded of the ultimate price paid by the forebears of the democracy dispensation that has given them all tools of democratic governance such as regular elections and institutions to hold their elected representatives accountable,” said the city. – SAnews.gov.za
