Home affairs to probe delayed IDs

2012-05-10 20:20

Pretoria - Delays in issuing two people with identity documents (IDs) will be investigated, the home affairs department said on Thursday.

Director general Mkuseli Apleni said in a statement the matter would receive "internal scrutiny".

The two people are Maria Nyathi, who has waited six years for an ID, and Jacqui Louw, who was trying to get an ID reflecting her new gender.

Nyathi applied for her ID at a home affairs office near Nelspruit and was turned back numerous times as it was apparently not ready.

After getting no joy from home affairs, Louw, who has had a sex change, obtained an order from the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, forcing the department to consider her application.

"While we are studying the purport of the judgment, we accept the outcome thereof and will seek to redress the imbalance created by the alleged administrative inefficiencies," said Apleni.

He said the department sympathised with the women as they had gone through pain and trouble because of the department's inefficiencies.

"They are entitled to a better quality service from all our officials who must serve our people with care, dedication and without prejudice." he said.

"Certainly, it shouldn't be that citizens must be forced to approach courts of law to find relief for what otherwise should be provided for by officials of state," said Apleni.

He said it was the responsibility of the department to ensure it delivered quality services without fear or favour.

The Pretoria News reported that Apleni faced a possible three-month prison sentence if his department did not issue Nyathi and Louw with IDs within 30 days.

- SAPA