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Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi outlined what services are now available at offices across the country under level 2 lockdown regulations, including limited services at South African banks’ satellite offices.
The changes have already been largely established in published regulations published this week; However, the minister clarified some points that have received many consultations.
One of the biggest services to return is the request for identity documents.
Mostoaledi noted that this is not for the general population, but for first-time applicants for identity documents, including those who are enrolled and those celebrating their 16th birthday, who can go to the Home Affairs offices and request the documents. relevant.
Others who can request ID cards are those whose temporary IDs issued during the lockdown have expired.
Between March 27 and August 21, 2020, the department issued more than 347,787 temporary identification documents, of these, 65,129 have expired; these holders are now eligible to apply for smart ID cards, he said.
The directive also states that all temporary identity certificates issued during the period of the national state of disaster that have not yet expired, have been extended until October 31, 2020.
Other services now allowed include requests for data modification or rectification. On average, 4,000 people visit the offices for corrections or amendments, Motsoaledi said.
According to the new published regulations, the following additional services will be available in the Home Affairs offices during the level 2 closure:
- Applications for the first issuance of an identity card or identity documents with a green barcode;
- Applications for Identity Cards or Identity Documents with a Green Bar Code by persons who have been issued a Temporary Identity Certificate during the national state of disaster, whose certificates have expired;
- Requests for modification of personal data;
- Requests for rectification of personal data;
- Back Office Records Retrieval Services.
Emergency passports
South Africans abroad who need to return to the country can apply for emergency passports, Motsoaledi said.
The minister said his office has been inundated with calls from people whose passports have expired, asking for them to be issued in the same way as IDs and other documents.
“It was hoped that these could be expanded. I want to be clear: the passport rules are not those of Home Affairs, they are part of the International Civil Aviation Authority. Passports cannot be extended, ”he said.
Passports are issued once, he said. If they are expired, lost, or stolen, you must get a new one. The remedy for this is that if you are stuck abroad, you are issued a temporary one-way passport to allow you to re-enter South Africa.
Home affairs in the banks
Another change to lock level 2 is that banks have been opened for collecting IDs and passports.
These collections are only for documents that were requested and processed before closing (before March 26, 2020).
Motsoaledi emphasized that this is only for collections, not for applications or any other service.
This service will be available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only, during bank hours.
These are the bank branches that will be open for Home Affairs collections:
- Absa Greenacres, Port Elizabeth
- Absa Sandton City
- Absa Towers in Johannesburg
- Absa Lifestyle, Centurion
- Lifestyle FNB, Centurion
- FNB Menlyn, Pretoria
- FNB Trader, Sandton
- FNB Portside, Cape Town
- Investec Bank, Sandton
- Nedbank Arcadia, Pretoria
- Nedbank Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort
- Nedbank Rivionia
- Nedbank Nelspruit
- Nedbank St George’s Mall, Cape Town
- Standard Bank Simon’s Street, Johannesburg
- Standard Bank Canal Walk, Cape Town
- Standard Bank Killarney Mall, Johannesburg
- Standard Bank, Centurion Lifestyle
- Standard Bank Kingsmead, Durban
- Standard Bank Jubilee Shopping Center, Hammanskraal
Read: Updated Level 2 Blocking Rules for South Africa Including Weddings, Home Affairs Services and Flights
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