Home Affairs offices in Province extend hours

SEVERAL Home Affairs offices across the Northern Cape are amongst those that are operating on a 7am to 7pm shift from 2 to 11 January 2019 to ensure clients are not turned away from offices during this busy period.

On a normal shift, Home Affairs clients are served from 8am in the morning until 3.30pm in the afternoon.

According to the department, the extended hours is as a result of the long queues Home Affairs offices had experienced last year around this time.

“The decision to extend the hours for this period is also in support of the war on queues campaign that was launched last year, in April,” the department said in a statement.

“Extending office hours at large offices and selected medium offices will help ensure citizens and clients are not turned away before receiving the services they require. This will assist also in managing queues so that people do not spend a long time waiting to be served.”

The Department yesterday urged citizens who had already applied for their smart ID cards, and had received notification that their cards are ready, to use this opportunity to collect them.

“Those who have not applied for their smart ID cards are encouraged to capitalise on the extended hours and accordingly apply with speed, ahead of the general elections. All other services will be offered, including application for and collection of passports and registration of births, marriages and deaths.”

Offices in the Northern Cape that will be operating from 7am until 7pm include Kimberley, Jan Kempdorp, Pampierstad, DMO Frances Baard, Kuruman and Upington.