Court helps security guard sort out identity crisis

A Mamelodi security guard who could not apply for his learner’s or driver’s license because another man apparently had the same ID number, had to obtain a court order to sort out the mess.

The High Court in Pretoria last week granted an order to Ernest Maputsi, 37, directing the transport minister to immediately amend his records and to detach the name of MI Molete from Maputisi’s identity number.

The department was also di- rected to immediately afford Maputsi the opportunity to apply for a learner’s and driver’s license.

Maputsi said in court papers that when he approached the Rayton licensing station near Bronkhorspruit in February last year to apply for a learner’s license, he was told to his shock that their system reflected one MI Molete under his identity number.

He told the official that he did not know who Molete was and found it worrisome that someone else was sharing an identity number with him; that extensive fraud could be committed; and that he might be held accountable.

He thereafter lodged a complaint with the transport department, which said the matter was being investigated, but it never contacted him again.

“It is clear the department is doing nothing about the issue whilst I suffer ... The issue is active in all licensing stations as all of them tell me one and the same story – that the identity number is linked to MI Molete and not NE Maputsi,” he said.

“Home affairs confirms that the identity number is registered under my name. The department is the custodian of personal records of all South African citizens and if the custodian confirms my status, on what basis is the transport department querying it?

“A year has passed amid vain claims that the matter is being investigated, whereas I desperately want to acquire a driver’s license. With the issue unresolved, 10 more years will go past with the status quo maintained.

“I have done everything in my power to resolve the matter ... but now realise that without the court’s intervention, I am destined for the worst.”