Home Affairs takes mobile service to Gugs

Gugulethu residents were helped with applications for ID books, passports, birth registrations and more when Department of Home Affairs mobile services visited the neighbourhood on Monday.

The services were provided from trucks stationed outside the community hall in NY50.

Home Affairs administrator Busisiwe Cebeni said they wanted to bring their services closer to the public.

“We are happy to be in people's service. Our job is to assist people to have proper documents. We have seniors and school-going children who are first-time applicants to help,” she said.

George Fikweni, who came to replace his lost ID, said: “I am always critical of the government of the day, but now I have to give credit to it. This is the best decision they have ever made. Not everyone can afford to go to town to do all these things. Remember most people are unemployed."

He said he hoped the mobile service could be offered monthly.

Nokuthula Mpela, who brought her daughter for an ID, also praised the department.

"I am a single mother who is unemployed and could not afford money to go to town or Nyanga. I am now relieved and excited to have my child’s ID."

Mayoral committee member for corporate services Theresa Uys said the City was working with Home Affairs to offer the mobile services, and she encouraged residents to spread the word about them.