IDs for matrics prioritised

2011-09-24 09:15

Pretoria - A 24-hour call centre has been set up for matriculants who encounter problems with applications for identity documents, the home affairs department said on Friday.

This was meant to prevent problems ahead of the matric final exams, director general Mkuseli Apleni said in Pretoria.

"You might find that some students have duplicate IDs, don't have parents or don't even have birth certificates," he told reporters.

"They have a chance to contact the department directly to sort that out."

The move was prompted by complaints from the public.

"There were problems last year, but no complaints have been received this year," he said.

Earlier this year, the government targeted 4 558 schools across the country in its drive to ensure pupils 16 years and older had IDs. The same campaign was conducted for the first time in 2010.

About 3 000 schools were visited this year. Apleni said most matriculants had applied for IDs and he urged those who had not applied for theirs to do so immediately.

The call centre numbers are: 079-519-3105, 082-809-5307, 082-888-8328 or 071-227-8438.

- SAPA