Maria Tshabalala (53) from Mpheni village in Elim seems to have gotten a very raw deal from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) recently. Out of the blue her, ID number was seemingly mixed up on the system with that of her son, causing a duplication.
When Maria went to Elim Home Affairs to apply for an identity document for her youngest son (who is in matric next year), she was told that, "according to the system", her own ID number was a duplicate of her third-born child's ID number. Tshabalala said they had two different ID numbers - and she could prove it too - so she was completely surprised that the "system" showed otherwise.
Elim's Home Affairs office referred her to the Louis Trichardt branch, who in turn told her that she was required to submit confirmation of birth from the hospital where she was born, as well as an affidavit from her local traditional council office, in order for them to issue her with a new ID number.
"I tried to get confirmation of birth from Elim Hospital where I was born, but the hospital claims that they have no records from 1968 [the year Tshabalala was born]. I got an affidavit from the traditional council, but this was not enough for the DHA to fix my ID," said Tshabalala. Apparently, they now also require a letter from a close relative, 10 years older than herself.
On 9 October, Tshabalala went back to the Louis Trichardt DHA and was informed that her ID had been blocked. This means that she now has no access to anything that requires an ID. She fears that the DHA's delay in fixing this mess that they created will negatively impact her life.
"This is the only access I have to my meagre income. Without my ID, I am totally cut off. I need to buy groceries, electricity, water and other necessities. If the ID is not fixed as a matter of urgency, then I will face serious challenges ahead," Tshabalala cried. She cannot apply for her son's ID without her own ID either.
A representative of Save the Children, a non-profit organisation based in Polokwane, heard about Tshabalala's plight and offered their assistance. The organisation had dealt with at least two similar cases before and say they hope to help sort out this one successfully as well.
Limpopo Mirror emailed several media enquiries to the DHA's media manager, Mr David Hlabane, over the past two weeks but received no response.