Player gets passport just in time
Deputy Home Affairs minister steps in
GEORGE Maskini, the rising soccer star who was selected to play In Thailand, has received a new passport just in time.
Time was almost up for George because his passport had not arrived despite his mother following the right processes.
Last week, the Cape Argus reported about George and his predicament. It was picked up by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Fatima Chohan, who stepped in.
The Grade 6 pupil from Sunnyside Primary in Athlone was selected to take part in the under-13 to 15 Phuket Cup, an international youth soccer tournament in Thailand. George’s teacher Nadia Charles spent the last five months raising funds for him. She raised R28 100. George’s old passport expired in May.
His mother Bampende had applied for a new passport in July and in that same month received an SMS, acknowledging her application. Four weeks later she was informed that the passport was still being printed.
Then, weeks later, she received shattering news. She was told her son could not apply for a travel document and had to apply for a passport despite being told a contrary story by Home Affairs officials.
George’s parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and now permanently live in South Africa. After the Cape Argus story went out, the deputy minister stepped in and gave Maskini a call to collect her son’s passport in Cape Town.
“I was so excited I just broke down and started crying, I am so speechless,” Maskini said. “I am so happy with the entire staff of Home Affairs. They are leaving on Monday and he will be there and his dream is coming true,” she said.