ID applicants steam ahead
2003-09-08 23:07
Cape Town - More than 1.5 million barcoded ID books have been issued since the start of an application campaign ahead of next year's general elections.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi, minister of internal affairs, said in parliament on Monday that "since the start of the campaign three months ago, two million applications have already been received".
He said he was concerned that time was running out for voter registration and that there was not a strong enough campaign in place to motivate people to register or to get them to recognise their duty as citizens to vote.
"I am therefore calling on the private sector and non-governmental organisations to take on this responsibility," he said.
Buthelezi also complained that his department lacked funds and personnel to do the job properly.
Almost one third of his department's 7 500 posts are vacant. An inquiry found that there should actually be 11 000 posts for him to do his job effectively.
"In certain aspects we do a good job with little money, but the situation is still critical and unacceptable ... in other aspects it's gone downhill."
One solution is to hand over his citizenship and immigration divisions to municipalities. This will be possible once the new ID credit card system is in place.
Meanwhile, mobile units will be sent to rural and sparsely-populated areas. In general, the department's offices are in bad condition. There are no toilets, offices are poorly equipped, they have outdated computers, no electricity and water, are understaffed and have no phones.
As a result, Buthelezi and some of his senior staff will resort to emergency measures, they plan to fix up offices themselves.
The technological aspect needs to be improved. The population register is only now being computerised. The new credit card system has been put on hold until Barry Gilder, the new director general, is satisfied that certain requirements have been met.
Buthelezi hit out by saying it's possible that certain people think a project like this does not carry any weight and that it should be slowed down until someone else takes over.
Gilder meanwhile, didn't bat an eyelid.
Lastly, the fight against corruption is to be stepped up and the police will help stem immigration corruption.