A programme by the Nyandeni Local Municipality to bring government services closer to its citizens saw Nozizwe Bolilitye (77) of Zinduneni location, in Ward 19 of the local authority, being able to apply for her first identity document, after using a birth certificate as her only form of her identity all her life.
The programme, dubbed Services on Wheels, was conducted in partnership with government departments such as the Department of Home Affairs, Social Development, Health, South African Police Service and South African Social Security Agency.
Bolilitye will now be able to apply for an old age grant from the government for the first time, following her successful application for an identity document.
“After a thorough Ward 19 analysis, conducted by Councillor Monwabisi Nomandela, it was established that Bolilitye had no identity document, 128 children had invalid birth certificates as those children did not appear under their parents’ names, while 156 children had no birth certificates at all, of which 28 of them are currently in Grade 12.
“Furthermore, the ward analysis by the ward councillor revealed that six children had no clinic cards which then made it difficult for the Department of Home Affairs to issue them with birth certificates. Forty-five middle-aged people in the ward were also found to not have identity documents at all,” said Nyandeni Local Municipality spokesperson, Ncebakazi Kolwane.
Kolwane said it was this significant number of cases that prompted the municipality to lead a massive integrated high impact outreach programme with the aim of addressing the aforesaid cases wherein all relevant government departments were rendering their services to the community.
The programme was held at Zinduneni locality on February 23.
“I have been applying for an identity document several times, without luck, as the Department of Home Affairs would tell me that because I had a birth certificate, to bring my parent with me to apply for an identity document. I am happy today that the problem was finally resolved and will now be able to get an old age grant like the other elders in my community,” said Bolilitye.
