The National Department of Home Affairs of South Africa is providing some of the services to the people of South Africa as set out by national government to help the people for essential needs during lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19. Some of the services not provided by the department will be provided after the lockdown or when the situation is manageable later on during the phases of lockdown announced by the president.
Birth certificates will be offered to all who need them by the department. New born children will be given their birth certificates while all other people who needs birth certificates for certain reasons will also be helped provided that their reasons are valid and not contravening with the regulations of fighting the spread of the coronavirus which is killing thousands of people globally. As the virus has already claimed 90 lives in South Africa, the department is helping walk-in clients as per regulations by national government where in queues the distance between people is one metre and they should have masks and gloves.
Death certificates are also offered by the department to help families who lost their loved ones during lockdown. Funerals are now allowed but the number of people attending one funeral should not be more than 50 as that could be a risk to people to get the virus if one of them is positive and not yet tested or confirmed so that they can be isolated from other people. Families who need death certificates are allowed to go to their nearest department offices and apply for those certificates at any time provided that they are also following regulations to fight the spread of the virus.
Replacement of identity documents is also offered by the department as one needs an identity documents to access most of the important services in the economical system of South Africa. Those who are willing to reapply for identity documents are allowed to do so and should go to their nearest department offices and ask for help at any time provided that they also follow the regulations to combat the spread of the deadly virus.
Services not provided by the department during lockdown include new identity documents applications and applications for passports and the registration of foreign nationals entering the country. No new foreign nationals are allowed to come to South Africa during lockdown as the borders are also closed until further notice so that is why the department is not offering passports to anyone who would like to go out of the country soon.
People who need new identity documents or first applicants should wait for further notice by the presidency as the department is not offering new identity documents application now as they are trying all their best to avoid people overcrowding at the department’s offices as that is a risk to the current coronavirus which is very dangerous.
