The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has made significant strides in ensuring that South African learners are equipped with essential documents for their future. Home Affairs has introduced mobile units to help those needing IDs to apply and obtain their documents.
These mobile units are traveling to remote areas, making it easier for students to obtain their essential identity documents. No longer do learners need to face the challenges of long queues and limited availability.
With the mobile offices, the process of applying for IDs has become more accessible and convenient than ever before.
Minister Leon Schreiber said:
Through the use of our mobile offices and in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, we are taking Home Affairs services to the doorstep of schools around the country, eliminating the need for learners and their parents to spend money on visiting offices.
During the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, the DHA successfully issued ID cards and other vital documents to a total of 37,214 learners at 1,625 schools across the country.
"Our officials are on the ground in communities every day, delivering services and coordinating their visits with school principals, School Governing Bodies, local councillors and other stakeholders," said Schreiber.
This initiative is particularly crucial as learners prepare for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. While an ID card is not a strict requirement for writing the exams, it is essential for accessing various opportunities and services after graduation.
To make it easier for learners and their families, the DHA partnered with the Department of Basic Education to deploy mobile offices directly to schools. This innovative approach eliminated the need for learners to travel long distances to reach Home Affairs offices, ensuring that services were accessible to even those in remote areas.
Minister Leon Schreiber emphasized the department's commitment to digital transformation and highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance existing services. The initiative has reached rural provinces like Limpopo, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, where thousands of learners have successfully applied for ID cards at their schools.
"The partnership with the Department of Basic Education has extended Home Affairs services to rural provinces like Limpopo, where 8,765 learners applied for IDs at their schools between April and June 2024. Another 5 763 learners in the Eastern Cape and 3 799 also applied in KwaZulu-Natal in this period."
During the same period, the Department assisted 44,619 adults in applying for their IDs via mobile offices.
Minister Schreiber reiterated the department's goal of fully digitizing and automating all Home Affairs processes. This will not only make it more convenient for citizens to obtain documents but also enhance security and efficiency.
While progress is being made, the department recognizes the need for further reforms to transition into a digital-first organization.
This project is a good example of our commitment to continuously improve our use of the tools currently at our disposal to deliver dignity, even as we work at speed to bring about the digital transformation of the Department.
In addition to serving learners, the DHA also assisted 44,619 adults through mobile offices during this period. Between April and June 2024, a total of 81,833 people were able to apply for their IDs right in their communities, thanks to the department's outreach efforts.
