ID book is 'a human right'

2008-03-21 22:47

Johannesburg - The current generation should fight for the provision of identity books as a basic human right, the Young Communist League said on Thursday.

To commemorate the 48th anniversary of Sharpeville Day this year the league would intensify its ID campaign across the company, said spokesperson Castro Ngobese.

"In the current dispensation, lack of an ID deprives the working class and the poor of access to government social security (child support grant, pension grant and foster care grant), access to banking system, housing, employment opportunities as well as education," he said.

The YCL dedicated Sharpeville Day to Bongekile Mkhize, who committed suicide after failing to receive an identity book from the home affairs department.

"Almost on a daily basis, young people are denied valuable opportunities to better their lives as a result of inefficient government departments who are charged with the responsibility of providing quality services to all our people," Ngobese said.

The league also dedicated the day to youth who were being denied their rights, including those in Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Western Sahara, Burma, Palestine and Kenya.

- SAPA