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Home Affairs opens up more services to the public during lockdown

As has been the case ever since South Africa’s lockdown level was dropped to level 4 at the beginning of the month, several government departments have been issuing guidelines for what is and is not permitted at this time. The latest to do so is Home Affairs, which has now confirmed the services that will be available during alert level 4 lockdown.

“While some services may have been restricted, limited services are being offered to ensure citizens have access to essential services, especially in this difficult time,” Home Affairs spokesperson, Siya Qoza, explained earlier this week.

To that end, these civic services will be rendered to citizens and clients from Monday to Friday, with operating hours being 8:30 to 15:30.

These civic services include the collection of smart identity cards, birth registrations and temporary measures regulating entry and exit from the country for emergency medical attention.

When it comes to something like birth registrations, the department notes that children that were not registered during level 5 lockdown can now be processed under level 4.

“Children born between 26 February 2020 and 3 May 2020 do not fall in the category of late registration of birth, while those delivered from 4 May 2020 must be registered within the mandatory 30 days of birth,” the department adds.

As far as applications for IDs go, none are being submitted at this time, with citizens instead directed to apply for a Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC), which will be issued on the spot. As mentioned earlier, the collection of smart IDs is still permitted during level 4.

Shifting to passports, those can be applied for, but are limited only to people who are directly involved with essential goods provision or delivery, along with anyone travelling out of the country for emergency medical services.

“They must provide, as supporting documents, original letters from the employer or medical practitioner indicating the need for medical attention outside our borders,” Home Affairs states.

It remains to be seen what will happen to the regulations when alert level 3, 2 and 1 are reached, but for now there is some sort of respite for South Africans that have logistics or admin to take care of with the government.

[Image – Photo by Mpho Mojapelo on Unsplash]

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