The Department of Home Affairs lacks basic intelligence and skills
Someone I know is trying get an Identity Document but is confronted by the collective stupidity of a government department that insists on making a basic issue, complicated.
The learner had an appointment at Standard Bank Canal Walk to avoid queueing at Barrack Street.
Sadly, it coincided with the taxi strike week. At the bank, the learner was told, those responsible for the “Home Affairs” part at the bank did not come to work, although other bank staff were at work.
Nobody informed those with appointments and the learner travelled a great distance for nothing.
Returning to the website to schedule a second appointment was not easy as this online application requires great patience. The second time the student was informed about FNB in ST Georges Mall. Fortunately her mother was suspicious and decided to check, only to discover FNB did not exist at that location. The nearest FNB was in Long Street and they did not help with Identity Documents.
The learner and her mother wasted time and money because the Department of Home Affairs does not care about for wasting people’s time and making taxpayers stand for hours in the rain and wind.
Ironically, the entire experience can be made so much easier, let me explain.
Since Matric learners need Identity documents, simply take a mobile operation to each High School when the kids are in Grade 11 and save thousands of parents and students from standing outside in Barrack Street in the rain. Also, since the cleaners at “Home Affairs” cannot maintain the toilets at “Home Affairs” it will save everyone a great deal of time, energy, money and mostly frustration.
Management should also stop workers from telling taxpayers they must “come back tomorrow” because “Pretoria” is not online. Reason and logic suggests “Home Affairs” work on a quota for the day and then send everyone else home so that the staff can do the bare minimum at work.
As rate and tax payer we demand “Home Affairs” treats citizens with respect and employ people who actually value there work and do not treat their work as a favour to taxpaying citizens.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress